Attributional style (along with other domains of social cognition) is altered in out-patients with BD and SZ. The presence of residual symptoms and a hostile social cognitive bias may contribute to the functional impairment of both groups.

Objective: To analyze the recognition, identification, and discrimination of facial emotions in a sample of outpatients with bipolar disorder (BD). Methods: Forty-four outpatients with diagnosis of BD and 48 matched control subjects were selected. Both groups were assessed with tests for recognition (Emotion Recognition-40 --ER40), identification (Facial Emotion Identification Test --FEIT), and discrimination (Facial Emotion Discrimination Test --FEDT) of facial emotions, as well as a theory of mind (ToM) verbal test (Hinting Task). Differences between groups were analyzed, controlling the influence of mild depressive and manic symptoms. Results: Patients with BD scored significantly lower than controls on recognition (ER40), identification (FEIT), and discrimination (FEDT) of emotions. Regarding the verbal measure of ToM, a lower score was also observed in patients compared to controls. Patients with mild syndromal depressive symptoms obtained outcomes similar to patients in euthymia. A significant correlation between FEDT scores and global functioning (measured by the Functioning Assessment Short Test, FAST) was found. Conclusions: These results suggest that, even in euthymia, patients with BD experience deficits in recognition, identification, and discrimination of facial emotions, with potential functional implications.

A deficit of social cognition in bipolar disorder has been shown, even when patients are stable. This study compares the attribution of intentions (social-cognitive bias) in a group of 37 outpatients with bipolar disorder with 32 matched control subjects. Bipolar patients scored significantly higher in the Ambiguous Intentions Hostility Questionnaire, showing an angry and intentionality bias (P = .001, P = .02). Differences in blame scale and hostility bias did not reach statistical significance, but a trend was found (P = .06). Bipolar patients with depressive symptoms presented a higher score in the angry bias scale (P = .03) and aggressivity bias scale (P = .004). The global functioning (GAF) correlates significantly with intentionality (P = .005), angry (P = .027), and aggressivity (P = .020) biases. Bipolar patients show a social-cognitive bias that may play a role in their functional outcome.

Older adults with anxiety tend to recognize less positive information and to present more negative emotions when remembering life events; while individuals without anxiety have a more positive experience of negative memories.

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Background:The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown on liver transplant (LT) patients remains unknown. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on the physical and mental health of LT patients during the lockdown period.Methods: Between August and October 2020 a web-based questionnaire was emailed to 238 LT patients undergoing regular follow-up at our unit. This pseudonymized survey explored demographic and lifestyle variables (i.e. eating and physical habits), disruptions in routine medical care, and different dimensions of mental health, COVID-19-related mood and coping (worries/anxiety, depression, insomnia, fear of Covid, resilience, etc.), and health perception using different validated instruments.Results: 48.7% (116 of 238) LT recipients accepted to participate, 104 of whom gave their consent to publish the data. The median age was 63 years. Up to 39.4% presented worrying scores indicating moderate/severe generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), whereas 25.5% exhibited moderate/severe insomnia and only 10.5% moderate/severe depression. Forty patients (38.5%) gained weight, 24% experienced a worsening in their eating habits and 63.4% referred to practice less or much less exercise during the lockdown. Only 25% perceived a worsening in the control of their chronic comorbidities. Missed medical appointments (0.9%) or worsening adherence to therapy (1.9%) were exceptional.Conclusions: COVID-19 lockdown has negatively impacted the mental and physical health of LT patients. Long-term consequences remain unclear.