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Neuropsychology Review
Published in: Neuropsychology Review 2/2016

01-06-2016 | Review

Social Cognition in Multiple Sclerosis: a Meta-Analysis

Authors: Emre Bora, Serkan Özakbaş, Dennis Velakoulis, Mark Walterfang

Published in: Neuropsychology Review | Issue 2/2016

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Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with cognitive decline and impairment in social functioning. Accumulating evidence suggests that patients with MS are impaired in social cognition, including theory of mind (ToM) and emotion recognition. In this meta-analysis of 24 studies, facial emotion recognition and ToM performances of 989 patients with MS and 836 healthy controls were compared. MS was associated with significant impairments with medium effect sizes in ToM (d = 0.57) and facial emotion recognition (d = 0.61). Among individual emotions recognition of fear and anger were particularly impaired. The severity of social cognitive deficits was significantly associated with non-social cognitive impairment. These deficits in social cognition may underpin difficulties in social functioning in MS. However, there is a need for further studies investigating the longitudinal evolution of social cognitive deficits and their neural correlates in MS.
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Metadata
Title
Social Cognition in Multiple Sclerosis: a Meta-Analysis
Authors
Emre Bora
Serkan Özakbaş
Dennis Velakoulis
Mark Walterfang
Publication date
01-06-2016
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Neuropsychology Review / Issue 2/2016
Print ISSN: 1040-7308
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6660
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11065-016-9320-6

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