Social Cognition Training Improves Recognition of Individual Emotions in Schizophrenia Disorder

Strategic Insights -

A randomized controlled trial conducted at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois, has revealed that computerized social cognition training can improve overall facial emotion recognition in individuals with schizophrenia disorder (SZ). The study, sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the American Psychiatric Association (APA) Foundation, aimed to evaluate the impact of computerized social cognition training on recognition of individual emotions in SZ. The results showed that the training improved the recognition of fearful and sad faces, as well as neutral recognition, but not anger recognition.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that computerized social cognition training improved the recognition of fearful and sad faces in individuals with schizophrenia disorder (SZ).
  • Only the training group improved recognizing fearful and sad faces, while the control group did not.
  • The training group also had higher accuracy for neutral recognition than the control group after training.
  • The study concluded that computerized social cognition training has the potential to improve social functioning in SZ, but interventions need to be further refined to improve anger recognition and emotion recognition reaction times.
  • The study was sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the American Psychiatric Association (APA) Foundation.

Statistics:

  • 98 individuals with SZ were randomly assigned to one of two internet-based interventions: computerized social cognition training (SCT) or a control condition (computer games without social content) (CON).
  • Participants completed 40 sessions of training over 8-12 weeks.
  • Facial emotion recognition was measured with the Penn ER-40 before training, after 20 sessions, and within 8 weeks of completing 40 sessions.
  • Linear mixed model analyses and t-tests elucidated intervention effects.
  • A significant Group x Time interaction on accuracy was found favoring the SCT group.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Study Data from Rush University Medical Center Update Understanding of Schizophrenia (Social Cognition Training Improves Recognition of Individual Emotions In Schizophrenia Disorder). Mental Health Weekly Digest. October 13, 2025; p 1180.
  • Elsevier Ireland Ltd, Elsevier House, Brookvale Plaza, East Park Shannon, Co, Clare, 00000, Ireland (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Psychiatry Research - www.journals.elsevier.com/psychiatry-research/)
  • Patrick JW. Social Cognition Training Improves Recognition of Individual Emotions In Schizophrenia Disorder. Psychiatry Research, 2025;352.