TY - JOUR
T1 - Metacognitive capacity and negative symptoms in first episode psychosis
T2 - Evidence of a prospective relationship over a 3-year follow-up
AU - Austin, Stephen Fitzgerald
AU - Lysaker, Paul H.
AU - Jansen, Jens Einar
AU - Trauelsen, Anne Marie
AU - Nielsen, Hanne Grethe Lyse
AU - Pedersen, Marlene Buch
AU - Haahr, Ulrik Helt
AU - Simonsen, Erik
PY - 2019/1/1
Y1 - 2019/1/1
N2 - Negative symptoms can be linked to Bleuler’s concept of splitting or fragmentation of thought, affect, and will. Research has shown a link between disturbances in metacognition and negative symptoms, although relatively few studies have examined this relationship longitudinally. The aim of this article is to examine whether metacognitive capacity among patients with first episode psychosis (FEP) predicted negative symptoms after a follow-up period of 3 years. Metacognition was assessed using the Metacognition Assessment Scale abbreviated and symptoms were assessed using Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale among 59 adults with FEP. Symptoms were then reassessed at a 3-year follow-up. Significant correlations were found between baseline metacognitive scores and the expressive component of negative symptoms as well as for individual negative symptoms such as blunted affect, poor rapport, and alogia at 3-year follow-up after controlling for baseline negative symptoms. Self-reflectivity was significantly correlated with the expressive component of negative symptoms at 3-year follow-up. The results are partly consistent with a Bleulerian model which understands the emergence of negative symptoms as a response in part to the experience of fragmentation, particularly in terms of sense of self and others. Future research should clarify the likely role of metacognition in the development and maintenance of negative symptoms.
AB - Negative symptoms can be linked to Bleuler’s concept of splitting or fragmentation of thought, affect, and will. Research has shown a link between disturbances in metacognition and negative symptoms, although relatively few studies have examined this relationship longitudinally. The aim of this article is to examine whether metacognitive capacity among patients with first episode psychosis (FEP) predicted negative symptoms after a follow-up period of 3 years. Metacognition was assessed using the Metacognition Assessment Scale abbreviated and symptoms were assessed using Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale among 59 adults with FEP. Symptoms were then reassessed at a 3-year follow-up. Significant correlations were found between baseline metacognitive scores and the expressive component of negative symptoms as well as for individual negative symptoms such as blunted affect, poor rapport, and alogia at 3-year follow-up after controlling for baseline negative symptoms. Self-reflectivity was significantly correlated with the expressive component of negative symptoms at 3-year follow-up. The results are partly consistent with a Bleulerian model which understands the emergence of negative symptoms as a response in part to the experience of fragmentation, particularly in terms of sense of self and others. Future research should clarify the likely role of metacognition in the development and maintenance of negative symptoms.
KW - First episode psychosis
KW - metacognition
KW - negative symptoms
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85073503929&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/2043808718821572
DO - 10.1177/2043808718821572
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85073503929
SN - 2043-8087
VL - 10
JO - Journal of Experimental Psychopathology
JF - Journal of Experimental Psychopathology
IS - 1
ER -