Emotion perception and learning potential: Mediators between neurocognition and social problem-solving in schizophrenia?

Social cognition and learning potential have been proposed as mediating variables between neurocognition and functional outcome in schizophrenia. The present study examined this relation in a schizophrenia group (N = 26) with normal IQ. Neurocognition was measured with a composite score from tests of verbal learning, psychomotor speed, and executive functioning. Functional Outcome was defined as social problem-solving skills and assessed with a role-play test. Social cognition was indexed by tests of Visual and auditory emotion perception: and learning potential by estimating gain score using a triple administration of the WCST. Neurocogniton was confirmed to be a strong predictor of social problem-solving, and emotion perception was related to both neurocognition and social problem-solving. When controlling for emotion perception, the association between neurocognition and social problem-solving was weakened, implying a mediating role of emotion perception. Learning potential was not significantly related to neurocognition or social problem-solving, and thus not found to mediate the studied relation. Ill Conclusion, our study indicates that emotion perception is a mediator between neurocognition and functional outcome as assessed with a social problem-solving task and thus a key factor in Understanding functional outcome of schizophrenia.