Cognitive biases are associated with aberrant salience experience in schizophrenia spectrum disorders

Valentina Pugliese; Renato de Filippis; Matteo Aloi; Elvira Anna Carbone; Marianna Rania; Cristina Segura-Garcia; Pasquale De Fazio

doi:10.1016/j.sjpmh.2023.07.001

Cognitive biases are associated with aberrant salience experience in schizophrenia spectrum disorders

Span J Psychiatry Ment Health. 2023 Sep 6:S2950-2853(23)00005-4. doi: 10.1016/j.sjpmh.2023.07.001. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Valentina Pugliese¹, Renato de Filippis¹, Matteo Aloi², Elvira Anna Carbone³, Marianna Rania⁴, Cristina Segura-Garcia⁵, Pasquale De Fazio⁶

Affiliations

¹ Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro 88100, Italy.
² Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro 88100, Italy; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.
³ Psychiatry Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro 88100, Italy.
⁴ Center for Clinical Research and Treatment of Eating Disorders, University Hospital Mater Domini, Catanzaro, Italy.
⁵ Psychiatry Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro 88100, Italy; Center for Clinical Research and Treatment of Eating Disorders, University Hospital Mater Domini, Catanzaro, Italy.
⁶ Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro 88100, Italy. Electronic address: defazio@unicz.it.

PMID: 38570903
DOI: 10.1016/j.sjpmh.2023.07.001

Abstract

Introduction: Cognitive models suggest the co-occurrence of cognitive biases and aberrant salience is unique to psychosis, but their interaction is not yet fully understood. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the relationship between subjective cognitive biases and aberrant salience in individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) in this study.

Methods: A sample of 92 subjects with SSDs underwent an assessment using Davos Assessment Cognitive Biases (DACOBS) and the Aberrant Salience Inventory (ASI) in a cross-sectional design. We evaluated psychopathological differences based on ASI scores and conducted a linear regression analysis to examine the variables associated with aberrant salience.

Results: Subjects with an ASI score ≥14 demonstrated significantly higher scores across all subscales and total score of ASI and DACOBS (p<0.001). ASI subscales were significantly positive correlated with all DACOBS subscales, ranging from 0.250 for Increased Significance and Safety Behavior to 0.679 for Heightened Emotionality and Social cognition problems. The linear regression analysis revealed a positive association between aberrant salience and the DACOBS subscales jumping to conclusions (JTC) (β=0.220), social cognition problems (β=0.442), subjective cognitive problems (β=0.405), and a negative association with the subscale belief inflexibility (β=-0.350).

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that JTC, social cognition problems and subjective cognitive problems may play a central role in the experience of aberrant salience in individuals with SSDs. This work informs about the need of developing prevention and intervention strategies that specifically target cognitive biases and aberrant salience in the treatment of psychosis.

Keywords: Aberrant salience; Belief inflexibility; Cognitive limitations; Jumping to conclusions; Psychotic disorders; Schizophrenia.