Cognitive mechanisms and outcome

The main aim of the group is to capture the variation and course of cognitive functioning in psychotic disorders and to identify mechanisms underlying cognitive dysfunction and cognitive heterogeneity.

About the group

In addition to investigating cognitive functioning and its underlying mechanisms in psychotic disorders, we aim to search for measures of social cognition to better predict real-life functioning and to develop new digital measures of functional outcome. Our goal is to provide better prognostic guidance and improved individualized intervention programs including cognitive remediation.

Our studies require both large scale datasets of cognitive performance in patients and healthy controls in combination with other biomarkers, as well as smaller and richer datasets measuring cognition in the same individual over time.

Achieving our aims entails using cognitive and clinical data, brain imaging data, genetic data and biochemical assessments, in collaboration with other research groups in the NORMENT Centre.

Aims

  • Identify cognitive markers of subgroups to improve precise diagnoses, outcome and treatment
  • Monitor the course of cognitive functioning to better predict illness trajectories
  • Search for measures of social cognition to better predict real-life functioning
  • Identify sources of cognitive heterogeneity impacting course and outcome
  • Develop cognitive remediation programs to improve behaviors not fully responding to medication and psychotherapy

Projects

  • The ecoval-study focuses on social processes combining naturalistic observation of real-world functioning with laboratory assessments and functional brain measures (EEG/ERP)
  • The 10-year follow-up study investigates clinical and neurocognitive trajectories from baseline to follow-up in first episode psychosis. There are two PhD projects focusing on neurocognition:
    • Trajectories of intellectual functioning and cognition in first episode schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and relations to cannabis-use.
    • Neurocognition in first episode schizophrenia spectrum disorders: long term trajectories and associations to functional outcome and polygenic risk scores.
  • The Neurocognitive Immune System study seeks to investigate how immune markers and their temporal pattern, associate with cognitive measures.
  • Cognitive Remediation studies focus on the effect of targeted training of neurocognitive and social cognitive functions.

Collaborators

  • Senior Research Psychologist Joseph Ventura, Department of Psychiatry, UCLA, and Semel Institute, USA
  • Professor Morris Bell, Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, USA
  • Associate Professor Elizabeth Bromley, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, UCLA, USA
  • Professor Susan McGurk, Department of Psychology, Boston University
  • Professor Åsa Hammar, Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, UiB
  • Associate Professor Jan Subberud, Lovisenberg Hospital and Department of Psychology, UiO
  • Professor Theresa Wilberg's group at the Department of Personality Psychiatry at OUS
  • Professor Merete Glenne Øie at the Department of Psychology, UiO, and Innlandet Hospital Trust
  • Postdoc Astrid Bjørnebekk's group at the Department of Mental Health and Addiction, OUS
  • Researcher Christine Friestad at the University College of Norwegian Correctional Services
  • Professor Jens Egeland at Vestfold Hospital Trust and the Department of Psychology, UiO
  • Professors Bjørn Rishovd Rund, Anne-Kari Torgalsbøen, & Stein Andersson at the Department of Psychology, UiO
Published Jan. 18, 2019 1:21 PM - Last modified Jan. 30, 2024 9:52 AM

Contact

Group leader