European Psychiatric Association Guidance on Assessment of Cognitive Impairment in Schizophrenia

Overview

Journal Eur Psychiatry

Publisher Cambridge University Press

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2022 Sep 5

PMID 36059109

Authors

Antonio Vita

Wolfgang Gaebel

Armida Mucci

Gabriele Sachs

Andreas Erfurth

Stefano Barlati

Federico Zanca

Giulia Maria Giordano

Louise Birkedal Glenthoj

Merete Nordentoft

Silvana Galderisi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Impairment in a wide range of cognitive abilities has been consistently reported in individuals with schizophrenia. Both neurocognitive and social cognitive deficits are thought to underlie severe functional disabilities associated with schizophrenia. Despite the key role in schizophrenia outcome, cognition is still poorly assessed in both research and clinical settings.

Methods: In this guidance paper, we provide a systematic review of the scientific literature and elaborate several recommendations for the assessment of cognitive functions in schizophrenia both in research settings and in real-world clinical practice.

Results: Expert consensus and systematic reviews provided guidance for the optimal assessment of cognitive functions in schizophrenia. Based on the reviewed evidence, we recommend a comprehensive and systematic assessment of neurocognitive and social cognitive domains in schizophrenia, in all phases of the disorder, as well as in subjects at risk to develop psychosis. This European Psychiatric Association guidance recommends not only the use of observer reports but also self-reports and interview-based cognitive assessment tools. The guidance also provides a systematic review of the state of the art of assessment in the first episode of psychosis patients and in individuals at risk for psychosis.

Conclusion: The comprehensive review of the evidence and the recommendations might contribute to advance the field, allowing a better cognitive assessment, and avoiding overlaps with other psychopathological dimensions. The dissemination of this guidance paper may promote the development of shared guidelines concerning the assessment of cognitive functions in schizophrenia, with the purpose to improve the quality of care and to obtain recovery.

Citing Articles

The awareness, characterization, and burden of Cognitive Impairment Associated with Schizophrenia (CIAS) in clinical practice: Results from a nationwide survey in Italy.

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Examination on the Acceptability, Feasibility and Effectiveness of a Digital Cognitive Training Software in Patients With Stable Schizophrenia in China.

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Harmonizing cross-cultural and transdiagnostic assessment of social cognition by expert panel consensus.

Pinkham A, Hajduk M, Ziermans T Schizophrenia (Heidelb). 2025; 11(1):25.

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Cognitive impairments in first-episode psychosis patients with attenuated niacin response.

Ju M, Long B, Wei Y, Tang X, Xu L, Gan R Schizophr Res Cogn. 2025; 40:100346.

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International perspective on social cognition in schizophrenia: current stage and the next steps.

Corbera S, Kurtz M, Achim A, Agostoni G, Amado I, Assaf M Eur Psychiatry. 2025; 68(1):e9.

PMID: 39812093 PMC: 11795453. DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2024.1776.

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