Characterization of social cognitive deficits on the schizophrenia-bipolar disorder spectrum: An overview of current evidence

Abstract A significant amount of literature has highlighted that patients with schizophrenia (Sz)-spectrum disorders, and to a lesser extent bipolar disorder (BD), are characterized by deficits in social cognition. At present, it is unclear whether the behaviorally measured social cognitive deficits evident in Sz-spectrum disorders are the same as those evident in BD. In this chapter, we provide a brief overview of the current state of the social cognitive literature on these disorders, with an aim to discuss overlaps and differences in behavioral deficit characterization, their clinical correlates, and their possible contributing factors.