Gender differences in response to metacognitive training in people with first-episode psychosis.

Abstract

Introduction: The study aimed to assess gender differences in the efficacy of metacognitive training (MCT) in people with first-episode psychosis in terms of symptoms and cognitive insight as a primary outcome and other metacognitive and social cognition measures as a secondary outcome. Method: A multicenter, controlled, randomized clinical trial was performed including 122 patients with first-episode psychosis. A total of 8 weekly group sessions of MCT or a psychoeducational intervention were performed. Patients were assessed at baseline, posttreatment, and follow-up. Symptoms were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and cognitive insight with the Beck Cognitive Insight Scale. A battery of questionnaires on metacognition and social cognition variables was included to assess secondary outcomes. A regression model for repeated measures was performed by gender. Results: Women of the MCT group improved more in general symptoms (p = .046), self-certainty (p = .010), and a composite index of the cognitive insight (p = .031). Moreover, women in the MCT group showed a reduction in personalizing bias (p = .021) and irrational beliefs related to dependence (p = .024), while men in the MCT group showed an improvement in intolerance to frustration (p = .017). In the Jumping to Conclusions task, men in the MCT group improved in the affective task (p = .021) while no differences were found in women. Conclusions: Our results suggest that MCT is more effective in reducing symptoms and improving cognitive insight for women than men. Moreover, different irrational beliefs and cognitive biases were reduced differently considering gender. MCT could be a gender-sensitive intervention.

Effects of singing bowl exposure on Karolinska sleepiness scale and pupillographic sleepiness test: A randomised crossover study

“…and metacognitive training (combining psychoeducational components and cognitive behavioural therapies) seems to be more effective in women. [30,31] We can only speculate if the women in our group were more perceptive to subjective improvements, or were more susceptible to delivering supposedly expected or positive results. A large interview-based survey found that women who used CAM were more likely to report positive outcomes and greater benefit compared to male CAM users.…”

Are There Gender Differences in Social Cognition in First-Episode Psychosis?

“…Although many studies do not reveal gender differences in social cognition in FEP, some authors have reported that men and women with FEP show distinct outcomes in interventions targeting social cognition. For instance, Salas-Sender et al [27] showed a reduction in the personalizing bias scores in women with FEP, but not in men, after metacognitive training. A possible explanation for this might be that mediating factors exist between gender and social cognition.…”

Immediate and Sustained Outcomes and Moderators Associated With Metacognitive Training for Psychosis

“…No other participant or treatment characteristic emerged as a moderator between MCT and any other proximal or distal outcome. Prior evidence suggests that women may improve more in general symptoms compared with men after MCT ; however, no sex-specific benefits were observed following meta-analysis.…”