Kathryn Hardin1, Danielle Beaudette1, Alan Breier1, Kyle Minor1; 1Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
In first episode psychosis (FEP) populations, neurocognitive deficits and negative symptoms are both significant predictors of functioning. Some studies have shown that neurocognition is a stronger predictor of functioning than psychotic symptoms. In clinical high risk populations, neurocognition mediates the relationship between negative symptoms and functioning and there is concern that some negative symptoms items (e.g., emotional and social withdrawal) overlap with social and role functioning, complicating this relationship. This study aimed to determine if, after accounting for neurocognition, negative symptoms predict variance in social and role functioning in FEP. A secondary aim was to explore the differing ability of social vs. non-social items on a negative symptom scale to predict functioning, after accounting for neurocognition. Twenty FEP young adults were evaluated on social and role functioning, negative symptoms, and neurocognition. Stepwise regression tested for 1) predictive value of neurocognition and 2) added predictive value of negative symptoms for social and role functioning individually. In both models, neurocognition and negative symptoms were not significant predictors. Secondary analyses tested if social items on the negative symptoms scale predict additional variance over 1) neurocognition and 2) non-social negative items. Neurocognition, non-social, and social negative symptoms were not significant predictors for role functioning. However, social negative symptoms predicted significant additional variance over neurocognition and non-social symptoms. Future studies should further explore the differing relationships between neurocognition, social, and non-social negative symptoms in both social and role functioning.
