Social cognition

Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2015:228:271-303. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-16522-6_10.

Abstract

Social cognition is a major problem underlying deficiencies in interpersonal relationships in several psychiatric populations. And yet there is currently no gold standard for pharmacological treatment of psychiatric illness that directly targets these social cognitive areas. This chapter serves to illustrate some of the most innovative attempts at pharmacological modulation of social cognition in psychiatric illnesses including schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, autism spectrum disorders, antisocial personality disorder and psychopathy, social anxiety disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Pharmacological modulation includes studies administering oxytocin, ecstasy (MDMA), modafinil, methylphenidate, and D-cycloserine. Furthermore, some background on social cognition research in healthy individuals, which could be helpful in developing future treatments, is provided as well as the potential for each drug as a long-term treatment option.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects
  • Brain / drug effects*
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Cognition / drug effects*
  • Cognition Disorders / drug therapy
  • Cognition Disorders / physiopathology
  • Cognition Disorders / psychology
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations*
  • Mental Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Mental Disorders / physiopathology
  • Mental Disorders / psychology
  • Nootropic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Social Behavior*

Substances

  • Nootropic Agents