Objective: Social cognition which shapes the relationship of the individual with his/her social environment is a developing field in the study of schizophrenia. This study aims at establishing the definition of the social cognition, specifying the relationship between the social cognition and the clinical variables and also psychosocial functioning, discussing the effects of various treatment methods on the social cognition.
Method: The studies about the social cognition found in the PsycINFO and MEDLINE/PUBMED databases have been overviewed.
Results: Social cognition is examined through the fields of emotional perception, social knowledge, social perception, attributional bias and the theory of mind. Patients with schizophrenia suffer from serious social cognitive impairments which are related to positive/negative symptoms and especially to the intensity of the negative symptoms. Social cognition, though independent from neurocognition, acts as a mediator between neurocognition and the functioning. Due to its relation to the functioning, social cognition is an important target of treatment in schizophrenia. The developed treatment approaches provide some improvement in social cognitive functions and psychosocial functioning. Therefore, social cognitive interventions become a promising field in the treatment of schizophrenia.
Conclusion: The social cognitive impairments attract attention as the most important factor predicting psychosocial functioning in schizophrenia. That is the reason why the interventions on improving social cognition in schizophrenia which affects patients’ lives and functionings might be a considerable step to cure schizophrenia.
Key words: Social cognition, schizophrenia, functioning
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