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Dynamic Assessment of Social Cognition in Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 November 2015

Helen M. Genova ,
Christopher J. Cagna ,
Nancy D. Chiaravalloti ,
John DeLuca  and
Jean Lengenfelder
Helen M. Genova*
Affiliation:
Kessler Foundation, West Orange, New Jersey Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey
Christopher J. Cagna
Affiliation:
Kessler Foundation, West Orange, New Jersey
Nancy D. Chiaravalloti
Affiliation:
Kessler Foundation, West Orange, New Jersey Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey
John DeLuca
Affiliation:
Kessler Foundation, West Orange, New Jersey Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey
Jean Lengenfelder
Affiliation:
Kessler Foundation, West Orange, New Jersey Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to: Helen M. Genova, 300 Executive Drive Suite 70, West Orange NJ 07052. E-mail: hgenova@kesslerfoundation.org
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Abstract

It has recently been reported that individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) are impaired on tasks requiring emotional processing and social cognition, including tasks of Theory of Mind (ToM) and facial affect recognition. The current pilot study examined the ability of individuals with MS to understand and interpret lies and sarcasm using a dynamic task: The Awareness of Social Inference Test (TASIT). Fifteen individuals with MS and 15 healthy controls (HCs) performed the Social Inference-Enriched subtest of the TASIT, in which they viewed video-taped social interactions in which lies and sarcasm are presented. Additionally, tests of cognition were also administered to better understand the relationship between specific cognitive abilities and the ability to understand lies and sarcasm. The MS group showed impairments in the ability to interpret and understand lies and sarcasm relative to HCs. These impairments were correlated with several cognitive abilities including processing speed, working memory, learning and memory, and premorbid IQ. The results indicate that the TASIT is a sensitive measure of social cognition in individuals with MS. Furthermore, performance on the TASIT was related to cognitive abilities. Results are discussed in terms of social cognition deficits in MS and how they relate to cognitive abilities. (JINS, 2016, 22, 83–88)

Keywords

Multiple sclerosisTheory of mindSocial cognitionTASITEmotional processingCognition
Type
Brief Communication
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 22 , Issue 1 , January 2016 , pp. 83 - 88
Copyright
Copyright © The International Neuropsychological Society 2015 

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