Pharmacological interventions for social cognitive impairments in schizophrenia: A protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Abstract

BackgroundSocial cognitive impairments adversely affect social functioning (e.g., employment status) in patients with schizophrenia. Although pharmacological interventions have been suggested to provide some benefits on social cognition, little information is available on the comparative efficacy of pharmacotherapy. Thus, the aim of this planned systematic review and network meta-analysis is to perform a quantitative comparison of the effects of various psychotropic drugs, including supplements, on social cognition disturbances of schizophrenia.MethodsThe literature search will be carried out using the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PsycINFO, ClinicalTrials.gov, and International Clinical Trials Registry Platform databases from inception onward. Randomized controlled trials that examined the efficacy of drugs in social cognitive disturbances will be included, based on the most recent studies and the broader literature than previously searched. This protocol defines a priori the methods that will be used for study selection, data collection, quality assessment, and statistical syntheses.DiscussionThe findings this work are expected to help promote the development of better therapeutics of social cognitive impairments in schizophrenia and related psychiatric conditions.Systematic Review Registration[www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero], identifier [CRD42021293224].

The Neural Correlates of the Social Perception Dysfunction in Schizophrenia: An fMRI Study

“…These findings suggest an impairment of social cognitive networks, leading to a negative effect on facial emotion recognition abilities, and ultimately hindering social functioning. 27 This finding aligns with a recent meta-analysis, which showed a marked inactivation of the amygdala, accompanied by a substantial limitation in activation throughout a ventral temporal-basal ganglia-prefrontal cortex "social brain" system may contribute to the challenges faced by patients when processing facial expressions of emotion. 14 In addition, a group of emotional interactions occurred in the right insular and right putamen.…”

Social Cognitive Impairments as a Target of Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation for Functional Outcomes in Schizophrenia

“…Several pharmacological approaches have been tried to enhance social cognition in patients with schizophrenia [7]. In particular, intranasal oxytocin [8], psychostimulants (e.g., modafinil) [2], antipsychotic drugs (e.g., risperidone, olanzapine) [9], and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors [10] have been tested as candidate compounds.…”

Baseline global brain structural and functional alterations at the time of symptom onset can predict subsequent cognitive deterioration in drug-naïve first-episode schizophrenia patients: Evidence from a follow-up study

“…At present, cognitive impairment is viewed as a central feature of schizophrenia, affecting approximately 80% of patients, and impaired cognitive functioning represents one of the main obstacles to clinical and functional recovery (15)(16)(17). Interestingly, brain structural and functional alterations were observed in any stage of schizophrenia, and usually accompanied with cognitive impairments (18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26). Mounting evidence converges that cognitive impairment arises before the onset of psychotic-like symptoms and may play a pivotal role in the onset, development and prognosis of schizophrenia (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)27).…”