Individuals with schizophrenia and related disorders experience significant functioning deficits in the community. The study of social cognition in schizophrenia has grown rapidly over the past decade, and a consensus has developed among researchers that dysfunction in social cognition may contribute to the severe interpersonal problems that are a hallmark of schizophrenia. This has generated hope that treatments which improve social cognition in this illness may enhance an individual's ability to live a socially engaged and rewarding life.

Social Cognition in Schizophrenia: From...

Impairments in social functioning are among the hallmark characteristics of schizophrenia. These deficits predict relapse rate and may be independent of better-studied symptoms such as hallucinations. Additionally, studies indicate that social functioning is one of the most important domains for individuals with schizophrenia, many of whom consider social functioning to be a key area of unmet need.

Social Cognition and Interaction Training (SCIT) is a group psychotherapy for individuals with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Social cognition refers to the thinking...