Social cognition interventions for patients with first-episode psychosis: A scoping review

• Published in: Psychiatry research Vol. 342; p. 116191
• Main Authors: Tang, Jeanna Man Yui, Chiu, Kaylie Ka Yu, Yang, Chen, Cheung, Daphne Sze Ki, Smith, Graeme Drummond, Ho, Ken Hok Man
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 01-12-2024
• Subjects: Early intervention; First-episode psychosis; Scoping review; Social cognition; Scoping review; Early intervention; First-episode psychosis; Social cognition
• ISSN: 0165-1781; 1872-7123; 1872-7123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2024.116191

•Further research is needed to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of social cognition interventions addressing social perception, as well as for in-patient setting.•Long term effects of interventions on social cognition functioning in first-episode psychosis are unknown.•Patients of first-episode psychosis will benefit from tailored made computerised/technological-based social cognition interventions.•Social anxiety and ambivalence about treatment, concerns over privacy, and inadequate digital literacy of patients with first-episode psychosis shall be addressed in the trend of digitalization of social cognition intervention.
This scoping review seeks to identify existing evidence of social cognition interventions for patients with first-episode psychosis. This review followed the five steps of Arksey and O'Malley's scoping review framework. Studies published between October 2002 and June 2023 were examined in the following six databases: PsycArticles, PsycINFO, CINAHL, EMBASE, Medline, and Scopus. We also searched grey literature and references of included studies. Studies reporting on social cognition interventions for adults with first-episode psychosis were included. Review findings were synthesised employing the PAGER framework. The PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews guideline was followed to prepare and report this manuscript. Twelve articles were included in this review. Most of the social cognition interventions were provided in out-patient clinics. Four studies provided board-based social cognition interventions, while the remaining eight studies introduced interventions to targeted domains of social cognition. All studies reported an improvement in patients’ social functioning and social skills after receiving the intervention. Barriers and facilitators for patients with first-episode psychosis in receiving social cognition intervention were also summarised. Future studies could be conducted to explore the long-term effects of social cognition interventions, particularly for in-patient setting and the domain of social perception.