Social cognition in multiple sclerosis and its subtypes: A meta-analysis
XiaoGuang Lin1, XueLing Zhang1, QinQin Liu1
1Department of Neurology, Affiliated Suqian Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Suqian, PR China.
Background:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated demyelinating disease that disrupts several social cognitive abilities, including the theory of mind (ToM) and facial emotion recognition (FER). It is unclear how specific ToM subcomponents, including cognitive and affective ToM, are affected in patients with MS and the social cognitive abilities in MS subtypes.
Methods:
A search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases was conducted until June 2020. Effect sizes were calculated using Hedges g with a random-effects model.
Results:
A total of 45 studies were included. Relative to health controls (HCs), patients with MS and its subtypes (including relapsing-remitting MS [RRMS] and progressive MS) exhibited impairments in ToM (g = -0.77, g = -0.70, g = -0.75, respectively), cognitive ToM (g = -0.72, g = -0.83, g = -0.73, respectively), affective ToM (g = -0.84, g = -0.63, g = -0. 50, respectively), and FER (g = -0.62, g = -0.53, g = -1.07, respectively). In addition, there was no difference between progressive primary MS and secondary progressive MS in overall ToM, cognitive ToM, affective ToM, and FER. Compared to patients with RRMS, patients with progressive MS showed no difference in overall ToM, cognitive ToM, and affective ToM but had more serious defects in FER (g = -0.57).
Conclusions:
These quantitative results indicate that patients with MS and its subtypes have a differential impairment of the core aspects of social cognitive processing (including ToM and FER), which may help develop the structured social cognitive interventions in MS.
Insights
Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients show significant impairments in social cognition, including theory of mind (ToM) and facial emotion recognition (FER). These findings highlight the need for targeted social cognitive interventions in MS care.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Immunology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated demyelinating disease.
- MS disrupts social cognitive abilities like theory of mind (ToM) and facial emotion recognition (FER).
- Specific impacts on ToM subcomponents and MS subtypes remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the specific impairments in cognitive and affective ToM in MS patients.
- To analyze social cognitive abilities across different MS subtypes.
- To provide quantitative insights into social cognition deficits in MS.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases up to June 2020.
- Meta-analysis using Hedges g effect sizes with a random-effects model.
- Inclusion of 45 studies comparing MS patients and subtypes to healthy controls.
Main Results:
- Patients with MS and its subtypes (RRMS, progressive MS) demonstrated significant impairments in ToM, cognitive ToM, affective ToM, and FER compared to healthy controls.
- No significant differences in ToM or FER were found between primary progressive MS and secondary progressive MS.
- Patients with progressive MS showed more severe FER deficits than those with RRMS.
Conclusions:
- MS and its subtypes exhibit differential impairments in core social cognitive functions, including ToM and FER.
- These findings support the development of structured social cognitive interventions for MS patients.
- Understanding these deficits is crucial for improving patient quality of life and social functioning.
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