Sex-based differences in neurocognitive functioning in first-episode psychosis : An exploratory analysis
Verdaguer-Rodríguez, Marina (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Psicologia Clínica i de la Salut)
López-Carrilero, Raquel (Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu)
Díaz-Cutraro, L. (Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu)
Ferrer-Quintero, Marta (Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques)
Grasa, Eva (Institut de Recerca Sant Pau)
Pousa Tomàs, Esther (Institut de Recerca Sant Pau)
Lorente-Rovira, Esther (Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM))
Birulés, Irene (Universitat de Barcelona. Departament de Psicologia Social i Psicologia Quantitativa)
Peláez, Trinidad (Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu)
Barrigón, María Luisa (Servicio Andaluz de Salud. Unidad de Salud Mental Comunitaria Málaga Norte)
Ruiz Delgado, Isabel (Servicio Andaluz de Salud. Unidad de Salud Mental Comunitaria Málaga Norte)
González-Higueras, Fermín (Hospital Universitario de Jaén)
Cid Colom, Jordi (Institut d'Assistencia Sanitària, Girona. Mental Health & Addiction Research Group)
Gutiérrez-Zotes, Alfonso (Universitat Rovira i Virgili. Hospital Universitari Institut Pere Mata)
Barajas Vélez, Ana (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Psicologia Clínica i de la Salut)
Ochoa, Susana (Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu)
Spanish Metacognition Group

Date:	2025
Abstract:	Background: Sex differences are described in neurocognition in first-episode psychosis, but evidence to date is still inconsistent. Our aim was to explore these differences, considering the effect of clinical and sociodemographic covariates. Study design: We performed an observational descriptive study. 191 persons with first-episode psychosis completed a clinical and neuropsychological battery, with Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Global Assessment of Functioning, Scale to Assess Unawareness in Mental Disorders, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Stroop Test, Trail Making Test, California Verbal Learning Test, and Continuous Performance Test. We analyzed mean differences between men and women and performed ANCOVAs to examine the effect of relevant covariates. Study results: After adjusting for covariates, an effect of sex accounted for a more frequent use of serial clustering in short-term free recall tasks in men than in women Both immediate recall and long-term recall were associated with education level and diagnosis, semantic clustering and cued recall intrusions were related to education level. Women performed better than men in Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, with education level also contributing significantly. Conclusions: Sex differences appear in verbal memory in first-episode psychosis, linked with factors underlying accuracy scores such as encoding strategies. Women show greater advantage in executive functioning. Diagnosis and education level show significant effects in these differences. Early interventions for psychosis are encouraged to target specific needs considering an intersectional approach, to optimize cognitive rehabilitation in FEP.
Note:	Altres ajuts: This work was supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Spanish Government, grant numbers PI11/01347, PI14/00044, and PI18/00212) by the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER), Health Department of Catalonia, PERIS call (grant number SLT006/17/00231), Progress and Health Foundation of the Andalusian Regional Ministry of Health, grant numbers PI-0634/2011 and PI-0193/2014, Obra Social La Caixa (RecerCaixa call 2013), CERCA Programme/Generalitat de Catalunya, Obra Social Sant Joan de Déu. Marina Verdaguer-Rodríguez is a beneficiary of a predoctoral grant in Clinical and Mental Health Psychology (grant number FPU21/02218, Ayudas para la Formación de Profesorado Universitario - Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades). Marta Ferrer-Quintero is supported by a Sara Borrell Fellowship. Luciana Díaz-Cutraro is a beneficiary of a predoctoral training grant in Health Research (grant number PFIS FI19/00062, Ayudas para la contratación de personal predoctoral-ISCIII).
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Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió acceptada per publicar
Published in:	Psychiatry research, Vol. 354 (December 2025) , art. 116803, ISSN 1872-7123

DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116803

Available from: 2026-12-01 Postprint 43 p, 543.1 KB

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