Biomedical subjects

Glenn Shean

Publications and source records attributed to Glenn Shean.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Social-cognitive functioning and schizotypal characteristics.

The authors examined the relationship between social cognition and a feature of schizotypal personality referred to as magical ideation, defined broadly as the presence and intensity of illogical beliefs about causality and the nature of reality. The measures of social cognition used in this study were the Character Intention Task (CIT) and the adult version of the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test. Regression analyses indicated that understanding of character intentions, as measured by CIT scores, and ability to identify emotions on the Eyes test were related to non-realistic beliefs. Principal components analysis of the Magical Ideation Scale generated 3 factors: Occult Beliefs, Non-Realism, and New Age Ideas. Results indicated that impaired understanding of character intentions and ability to identify emotions on the Eyes test were related to non-realistic beliefs. Understanding the cognitive impairments associated with schizotypal characteristics can facilitate development of more targeted therapeutic interventions.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Social cognition and symptom dimensions.

This study used the Picture Arrangement subtest of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale to assess social cognitive functioning of psychotic patients diagnosed with bipolar, schizophrenia, or schizoaffective disorder. All participants were rated on positive and negative symptom rating scales, from which three symptom dimensions were obtained. Symptom dimensions were not significantly related to ratings of symptom severity or mental status examination scores. Disorganized symptoms were correlated with a wide range of impairments on nearly all subscale measures of social cognition. Negative symptoms were correlated with lower ratings of capacity for emotional investment, complexity of representations, and integration of episodes. Psychoticism was associated with negative affect tone. Diagnostic categories were not related to social cognitive impairments independent of estimates of premorbid level of cognitive function. Evidence of syndromal differences suggests that heterogeneity of variance in studies of functioning of schizophrenic patients can be reduced by inclusion of symptom dimensions.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Symptoms of schizophrenia and neurocognitive test performance.

Schizophrenic in-patients were rated on factor-derived symptom dimensions based on negative and positive symptom ratings. Participants were administered neuropsychological tests (digit span, digit vigilance, logical memory, and Trails A and B) and then instructed on how to improve performance on the tests. Follow-up tests were administered shortly after coaching. Comparisons of pre- and post-instruction test scores indicated that the patient group was able to improve significantly their performance on the tests after coaching. Symptom dimensions were predictive of improved post-instruction test performance beyond the impact of the level of pre-instruction scores. Symptoms of disorganization and negative symptoms were related to lack of ability to improve performance on one or more of the tests, and positive symptoms and premorbid adjustment were associated with improved post-instruction performance. The symptom dimensions provide a potentially useful approach to reducing heterogeneity within samples of schizophrenic patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Interpersonal aspects of the syndromes of schizophrenia.

Raters listened to interviews with schizophrenic patients and rated each participant using Wiggins's Interpersonal Adjective Checklist-Revised, a measure of interpersonal behavior. It was predicted that three symptom dimensions (disorganization, psychoticism and negative symptoms) would be associated with unique patterns of interpersonal behavior. Results indicated that symptoms of psychoticism (systematized delusions and auditory hallucinations) were rated as evidencing Arrogant-Calculating characteristics. Negative symptoms were associated with Unassured-Unassuming and Aloof-Introverted patterns. Symptoms of disorganization were associated with Quarrelsome behavior. Increased knowledge of the interpersonal styles associated with different subsyndromal patterns of schizophrenic symptoms, and the reactions they are likely to elicit in others, can provide a useful framework for the design of social-cognitive rehabilitation programs.

Adult↗