Kjetil Søren Sundet

• Vaskinn, Anja; Løvgren, André; Andreassen, Ole & Sundet, Kjetil Søren (2025). Social cognitive training among individuals with schizophrenia: Identifying responders to treatment. Schizophrenia Research: Cognition. 40. doi: 10.1016/j.scog.2025.100350. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  In this follow-up study of a previous randomized controlled trial of targeted facial affect recognition training among individuals with schizophrenia, reliable change indices (RCIs) were employed to identify responders to treatment. The original study found improved theory of mind at 3-month follow-up. The current study included 15 participants who received the intervention and who completed all three assessment points in the original study. Six of them had RCIs over the cutoff (≥+1.64), indicating that they had a clinically meaningful and statistically reliable improvement in ToM. The responders had significantly higher psychotic symptom level at baseline, but no other group differences between responders and nonresponders were identified. The study found no support for suggested moderators of treatment effect of social cognitive training (sex, education). As no consistently replicated barriers to treatment gains have been identified, we suggest that social cognitive training, where available, should be offered to interested clients.

• Vaskinn, Anja; Ueland, Torill; Melle, Ingrid & Sundet, Kjetil Søren (2024). Sex differences in social cognition among individuals with schizophrenia and in healthy control participants: a secondary analysis of published data. Archives of Women's Mental Health. ISSN 1434-1816. doi: 10.1007/s00737-024-01422-8. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Purpose Sex differences are present among individuals experiencing schizophrenia. Whether these differences extend to social cognition is unclear. In this study, we investigated sex differences in emotion perception, social perception and theory of mind (ToM). Methods We examined sex differences between males and females with schizophrenia on five social cognitive tests. Healthy male and female control participants were included to examine if any sex difference was illness-specific. Emotion perception was measured with Pictures of Facial Affect (PFA) and Emotion in Biological Motion (EmoBio); social perception with the Relationships Across Domains Test (RAD); and ToM with the Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition (MASC) and Hinting Task. Results Two-way analyses of variance revealed overall group differences for all tests, with healthy controls outperforming individuals with schizophrenia. Significant sex effects were present for PFA and Hinting Task. There were no significant interaction effects. Within-group independent samples t-tests yielded one significant sex difference, i.e., among healthy controls for PFA. Conclusions Females had better facial emotion perception than males. This sex difference was statistically significant among healthy controls and medium-large among individuals experiencing schizophrenia. There were no significant sex differences for other social cognitive domains. The study did not find evidence for a general female advantage in social cognition.

• Haatveit, Beathe; Westlye, Lars Tjelta; Vaskinn, Anja; Flaaten, Camilla Bärthel; Mohn, Hanne Christine & Bjella, Thomas [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2023). Intra- and inter-individual cognitive variability in schizophrenia and bipolar spectrum disorder: an investigation across multiple cognitive domains. Schizophrenia. 9(1). doi: 10.1038/s41537-023-00414-4. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  There is substantial cognitive heterogeneity among patients with schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorders (BD). More knowledge about the magnitude and clinical correlates of performance variability could improve our understanding of cognitive impairments. Using double generalized linear models (DGLMs) we investigated cognitive mean and variability differences between patients with SZ (n = 905) and BD spectrum disorders (n = 522), and healthy controls (HC, n = 1170) on twenty-two variables. The analysis revealed significant case-control differences on 90% of the variables. Compared to HC, patients showed larger intra-individual (within subject) variability across tests and larger inter-individual (between subject) variability in measures of fine-motor speed, mental processing speed, and inhibitory control (SZ and BD), and in verbal learning and memory and intellectual functioning (SZ). In SZ, we found that lager intra -and inter (on inhibitory control and speed functions) individual variability, was associated with lower functioning and more negative symptoms. Inter-individual variability on single measures of memory and intellectual function was additionally associated with disorganized and positive symptoms, and use of antidepressants. In BD, there were no within-subject associations with symptom severity. However, greater inter-individual variability (primarily on inhibitory control and speeded functions) was associated with lower functioning, more negative -and disorganized symptoms, earlier age at onset, longer duration of illness, and increased medication use. These results highlight larger individual differences in patients compared to controls on various cognitive domains. Further investigations of the causes and correlates of individual differences in cognitive function are warranted.

• Vaskinn, Anja; Sundet, Kjetil Søren & Haatveit, Beathe (2022). Social cognitive heterogeneity in schizophrenia: A cluster analysis. Schizophrenia Research: Cognition. 30. doi: 10.1016/j.scog.2022.100264. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This study examined social cognitive heterogeneity in Norwegian sample of individuals with schizophrenia (n = 82). They were assessed with three social cognitive tests: Emotion in Biological Motion (emotion processing), Relationships Across Domains (social perception), and Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition (theory of mind). Hierarchical and k-means cluster analyses using standardized scores on these three tests provided two clusters. The first cluster (68 %) had mild social cognitive impairments (2 standard deviations below healthy comparison participants). Validity of the two social cognitive subgroups was indicated by significant differences in functioning, symptom load and nonsocial cognition. Our study shows that social cognitive tests can be used for clinical and cognitive subtyping. This is of potential relevance for treatment.

• Vaskinn, Anja; Sundet, Kjetil; Melle, Ingrid; Andreassen, Ole A. & Friis, Svein (2021). The factor structure of social cognition in schizophrenia: Weak evidence for separable domains. Schizophrenia Research: Cognition. 26, p. 1–4. doi: 10.1016/j.scog.2021.100208. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This study examined the factor structure of social cognition in a Norwegian sample of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia (n = 83). Eight variables from three social cognitive tests from three theoretical domains were included: emotion processing, social perception and theory of mind. Factor analysis with maximum likelihood extraction and oblique rotation resulted in two factors using Kaiser's criterion. Although the two-factor model had better fit than a unifactorial model, it did not represent the data well. Two social cognitive variables did not load on either factor. The two extracted factors did not correspond to an expected distinction between low and high level of processing or between affective and cognitive processes. A non-negligible number of nonredundant residuals between observed and computed correlations suggested poor model fit. In conclusion, this study failed to identify separable dimensions of social cognition in spite of including measures from different theoretical domains.

• Øie, Merete Glenne; Sundet, Kjetil Søren; Haug, Elisabeth; Zeiner, Pål; Klungsøyr, Ole & Rund, Bjørn Rishovd (2021). Cognitive Performance in Early-Onset Schizophrenia and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A 25-Year Follow-up Study. Frontiers in Psychology. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.606365. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Early-Onset Schizophrenia (EOS) and Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are early- onset neurodevelopmental disorders associated with cognitive deficits. The current study represents the first attempt to compare these groups on a comprehensive cognitive test battery in a longitudinal design over 25 years in order to enhance our knowledge of particular patterns resulting from the interaction between normal maturational processes and different illness processes of these disorders. In the baseline study, 19 adolescents with schizophrenia were compared to 20 adolescents with ADHD and 30 healthy controls (HC), all between 12 and 18 years of age. After 13 years (T2) and after 25 years (T3) they were re-evaluated with the cognitive test battery. A cognitive Composite Score was used in a linear mixed model. The EOS group had a significant cognitive stagnation or deterioration from T1 to T2 compared to HC. However, the EOS group had the most positive change from T2 to T3, supporting a stable level of cognitive performance over the 25 year span. The ADHD group improved or had similar development as the HC group from T1 to T2. They continued to improve significantly compared to the HC group from T2 to T3. Individuals in the EOS group performed more impaired on the cognitive composite score compared to the HC group and the ADHD group at all three time points. Results might indicate a neurodevelopmental pathway of EOS with subnormal cognitive development specific in adolescence. In comparison, the ADHD group had a more consistent cognitive maturation supporting a maturational delay hypothesis of ADHD.

• Vaskinn, Anja; Haatveit, Beathe; Melle, Ingrid; Andreassen, Ole Andreas; Ueland, Torill & Sundet, Kjetil Søren (2020). Cognitive Heterogeneity Across Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder: A Cluster Analysis of Intellectual Trajectories. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society. ISSN 1355-6177. 26(9), p. 860–872. doi: 10.1017/S1355617720000442. Full text in Research Archive
• Lam, Max; Hill, W. David; Trampush, Joey W.; Yu, Jin; Knowles, Emma & Davies, Gail [Show all 68 contributors for this article] (2019). Pleiotropic meta-analysis of cognition, education, and schizophrenia differentiates roles of early neurodevelopmental and adult synaptic pathways. American Journal of Human Genetics. ISSN 0002-9297. 105(2), p. 334–350. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2019.06.012. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Susceptibility to schizophrenia is inversely correlated with general cognitive ability at both the phenotypic and the genetic level. Paradoxically, a modest but consistent positive genetic correlation has been reported between schizophrenia and educational attainment, despite the strong positive genetic correlation between cognitive ability and educational attainment. Here we leverage published genome-wide association studies (GWASs) in cognitive ability, education, and schizophrenia to parse biological mechanisms underlying these results. Association analysis based on subsets (ASSET), a pleiotropic meta-analytic technique, allowed jointly associated loci to be identified and characterized. Specifically, we identified subsets of variants associated in the expected (“concordant”) direction across all three phenotypes (i.e., greater risk for schizophrenia, lower cognitive ability, and lower educational attainment); these were contrasted with variants that demonstrated the counterintuitive (“discordant”) relationship between education and schizophrenia (i.e., greater risk for schizophrenia and higher educational attainment). ASSET analysis revealed 235 independent loci associated with cognitive ability, education, and/or schizophrenia at p < 5 × 10−8. Pleiotropic analysis successfully identified more than 100 loci that were not significant in the input GWASs. Many of these have been validated by larger, more recent single-phenotype GWASs. Leveraging the joint genetic correlations of cognitive ability, education, and schizophrenia, we were able to dissociate two distinct biological mechanisms—early neurodevelopmental pathways that characterize concordant allelic variation and adulthood synaptic pruning pathways—that were linked to the paradoxical positive genetic association between education and schizophrenia. Furthermore, genetic correlation analyses revealed that these mechanisms contribute not only to the etiopathogenesis of schizophrenia but also to the broader biological dimensions implicated in both general health outcomes and psychiatric illness.

• Richards, Alexander L.; Pardiñas, Antonio F.; Frizzati, Aura; Tansey, Katherine E.; Lynham, Amy J. & Holmans, Peter [Show all 48 contributors for this article] (2019). The Relationship Between Polygenic Risk Scores and Cognition in Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin. ISSN 0586-7614. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbz061. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment is a clinically important feature of schizophrenia. Polygenic risk score (PRS) methods have demonstrated genetic overlap between schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (BD), major depressive disorder (MDD), educational attainment (EA), and IQ, but very few studies have examined associations between these PRS and cognitive phenotypes within schizophrenia cases. METHODS: We combined genetic and cognitive data in 3034 schizophrenia cases from 11 samples using the general intelligence factor g as the primary measure of cognition. We used linear regression to examine the association between cognition and PRS for EA, IQ, schizophrenia, BD, and MDD. The results were then meta-analyzed across all samples. A genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of cognition was conducted in schizophrenia cases. RESULTS: PRS for both population IQ (P = 4.39 x 10-28) and EA (P = 1.27 x 10-26) were positively correlated with cognition in those with schizophrenia. In contrast, there was no association between cognition in schizophrenia cases and PRS for schizophrenia (P = .39), BD (P = .51), or MDD (P = .49). No individual variant approached genome-wide significance in the GWAS. CONCLUSIONS: Cognition in schizophrenia cases is more strongly associated with PRS that index cognitive traits in the general population than PRS for neuropsychiatric disorders. This suggests the mechanisms of cognitive variation within schizophrenia are at least partly independent from those that predispose to schizophrenia diagnosis itself. Our findings indicate that this cognitive variation arises at least in part due to genetic factors shared with cognitive performance in populations and is not solely due to illness or treatment-related factors, although our findings are consistent with important contributions from these factors.

• Vaskinn, Anja; Løvgren, André; Egeland, Maj Kristoffersen; Feyer, Frida Karine; Østefjells, Tiril & Andreassen, Ole Andreas [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2019). A randomized controlled trial of training of affect recognition (TAR) in schizophrenia shows lasting effects for theory of mind. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience. ISSN 0940-1334. 269(5), p. 611–620. doi: 10.1007/s00406-019-00997-z. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Schizophrenia is characterized by social cognitive impairments that predict functioning. Social cognitive training aims to target these impairments. Although it can improve the targeted social cognitive domain, it is unclear if the training generalizes to non-targeted domains and to functioning, with lasting effects. This randomized controlled trial examined the effect of a targeted facial affect recognition training program, Training of Affect Recognition (TAR), in persons with schizophrenia. Individuals with schizophrenia were randomized to receive treatment as usual and TAR (n = 24) or treatment as usual (n = 24) after assessments with a comprehensive protocol at baseline (T1). Participants were reassessed immediately after the intervention period (T2: after 8 weeks) and at 3-month follow-up (T3). The protocol included tests of social cognition (facial or body affect recognition, theory of mind), nonsocial cognition (Matrics Consensus Cognitive Battery), clinical symptoms (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia), functioning (self-reported, social or nonsocial functional capacity), self-esteem, self-efficacy and insight. Linear mixed models yielded a significant group × time interaction effect for a non-targeted social cognitive domain (theory of mind) and a trend-level effect for social functional capacity with the intervention group performing better over time. No beneficial effects on nonsocial cognition, other measures of functioning, clinical symptoms, or self-esteem/self-efficacy appeared for the TAR program. This study provides evidence for transfer and durability effects of facial affect recognition training to theory of mind, but also highlights the need for additional treatments to achieve functional benefits.

• Savage, Jeanne E.; Jansen, Philip R.; Stringer, Sven; Watanabe, Kyoko; Bryois, Julien & Leeuw, Christiaan A. de [Show all 117 contributors for this article] (2018). Genome-wide association meta-analysis in 269,867 individuals identifies new genetic and functional links to intelligence. Nature Genetics. ISSN 1061-4036. 50, p. 912–919. doi: 10.1038/s41588-018-0152-6. Full text in Research Archive
• Vaskinn, Anja; Andersson, Stein; Østefjells, Tiril; Andreassen, Ole Andreas & Sundet, Kjetil Søren (2018). Emotion perception, non-social cognition and symptoms as predictors of theory of mind in schizophrenia. Comprehensive Psychiatry. ISSN 0010-440X. 85, p. 1–7. doi: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2018.05.002. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: Theory of mind (ToM) can be divided into cognitive and affective ToM, and a distinction can be made between overmentalizing and undermentalizing errors. Research has shown that ToM in schizophrenia is associated with non-social and social cognition, and with clinical symptoms. In this study, we investigate cognitive and clinical predictors of different ToM processes. Methods: Ninety-one individuals with schizophrenia participated. ToM was measured with the Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition (MASC) yielding six scores (total ToM, cognitive ToM, affective ToM, overmentalizing errors, undermentalizing errors and no mentalizing errors). Neurocognition was indexed by a composite score based on the non-social cognitive tests in the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). Emotion perception was measured with Emotion in Biological Motion (EmoBio), a point-light walker task. Clinical symptoms were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Seventy-one healthy control (HC) participants completed the MASC. Results: Individuals with schizophrenia showed large impairments compared to HC for all MASC scores, except overmentalizing errors. Hierarchical regression analyses with the six different MASC scores as dependent variables revealed that MCCB was a significant predictor of all MASC scores, explaining 8–18% of the variance. EmoBio increased the explained variance significantly, to 17–28%, except for overmentalizing errors. PANSS excited symptoms increased explained variance for total ToM, affective ToM and no mentalizing errors. Discussion: Both social and non-social cognition were significant predictors of ToM. Overmentalizing was only predicted by non-social cognition. Excited symptoms contributed to overall and affective ToM, and to no mentalizing errors.

• Davies, Gail; Lam, Max; Harris, Sarah E.; Trampush, Joey W.; Luciano, Michelle & Hill, W. David [Show all 221 contributors for this article] (2018). Study of 300,486 individuals identifies 148 independent genetic loci influencing general cognitive function. Nature Communications. 9(2098), p. 1–16. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-04362-x. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  General cognitive function is a prominent and relatively stable human trait that is associated with many important life outcomes. We combine cognitive and genetic data from the CHARGE and COGENT consortia, and UK Biobank (total N = 300,486; age 16–102) and find 148 genome-wide significant independent loci (P < 5 × 10−8) associated with general cognitive function. Within the novel genetic loci are variants associated with neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders, physical and psychiatric illnesses, and brain structure. Gene-based analyses find 709 genes associated with general cognitive function. Expression levels across the cortex are associated with general cognitive function. Using polygenic scores, up to 4.3% of variance in general cognitive function is predicted in independent samples. We detect significant genetic overlap between general cognitive function, reaction time, and many health variables including eyesight, hypertension, and longevity. In conclusion we identify novel genetic loci and pathways contributing to the heritability of general cognitive function.

• Lam, Max; Trampush, Joey W.; Yu, Jin; Knowles, Emma; Davies, Gail & Liewald, David C. [Show all 65 contributors for this article] (2017). Large-scale cognitive GWAS meta-analysis reveals tissue-specific neural expression and potential nootropic drug targets. Cell reports. 21(9), p. 2597–2613. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.11.028. Full text in Research Archive
• Trampush, Joey W.; Yang, M.L.Z.; Yu, Jin; Knowles, Emma; Davies, Gail & Liewald, David C.M. [Show all 66 contributors for this article] (2017). GWAS meta-analysis reveals novel loci and genetic correlates for general cognitive function: a report form the COGENT consortium. Molecular Psychiatry. ISSN 1359-4184. 22(3), p. 336–345. doi: 10.1038/mp.2016.244. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The complex nature of human cognition has resulted in cognitive genomics lagging behind many other fields in terms of gene discovery using genome-wide association study (GWAS) methods. In an attempt to overcome these barriers, the current study utilized GWAS meta-analysis to examine the association of common genetic variation (~8M single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) with minor allele frequency ⩾1%) to general cognitive function in a sample of 35 298 healthy individuals of European ancestry across 24 cohorts in the Cognitive Genomics Consortium (COGENT). In addition, we utilized individual SNP lookups and polygenic score analyses to identify genetic overlap with other relevant neurobehavioral phenotypes. Our primary GWAS meta-analysis identified two novel SNP loci (top SNPs: rs76114856 in the CENPO gene on chromosome 2 and rs6669072 near LOC105378853 on chromosome 1) associated with cognitive performance at the genome-wide significance level (P<5 × 10^−8). Gene-based analysis identified an additional three Bonferroni-corrected significant loci at chromosomes 17q21.31, 17p13.1 and 1p13.3. Altogether, common variation across the genome resulted in a conservatively estimated SNP heritability of 21.5% (s.e.=0.01%) for general cognitive function. Integration with prior GWAS of cognitive performance and educational attainment yielded several additional significant loci. Finally, we found robust polygenic correlations between cognitive performance and educational attainment, several psychiatric disorders, birth length/weight and smoking behavior, as well as a novel genetic association to the personality trait of openness. These data provide new insight into the genetics of neurocognitive function with relevance to understanding the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric illness.

• Vaskinn, Anja; Lagerberg, Trine Vik; Bjella, Thomas; Simonsen, Carmen Elisabeth; Andreassen, Ole Andreas & Ueland, Torill [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2017). Impairment in emotion perception from body movements in individuals with bipolar I and bipolar II disorder is associated with functional capacity. International journal of bipolar disorders. 5(13), p. 1–9. doi: 10.1186/s40345-017-0083-7. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background Individuals with bipolar disorder present with moderate impairments in social cognition during the euthymic state. The impairment extends to theory of mind and to the perception of emotion in faces and voices, but it is unclear if emotion perception from body movements is affected. The main aim of this study was to examine if participants with bipolar disorder perform worse than healthy control participants on a task using point-light displays of human full figures moving in a manner indicative of a basic emotion (angry, happy, sad, fearful, neutral/no emotion). A secondary research question was whether diagnostic subtypes (bipolar I, bipolar II) and history of psychosis impacted on this type of emotion perception. Finally, symptomatic, neurocognitive, and functional correlates of emotion perception from body movements were investigated. Methods Fifty-three individuals with bipolar I (n = 29) or bipolar II (n = 24) disorder, and 84 healthy control participants were assessed for emotion perception from body movements. The bipolar group also underwent clinical, cognitive, and functional assessment. Research questions were analyzed using analyses of variance and bivariate correlations. Results The bipolar disorder group differed significantly from healthy control participants for emotion perception from body movements (Cohen’s d = 0.40). Analyses of variance yielded no effects of sex, diagnostic subtype (bipolar I, bipolar II), or history of psychosis. There was an effect of emotion, indicating that some emotions are easier to recognize. The lack of a significant group × emotion interaction effect points, however, to this being so regardless of the presence of bipolar disorder. Performance was unrelated to manic and depressive symptom load but showed significant associations with neurocognition and functional capacity. Conclusions Individuals with bipolar disorder had a small but significant impairment in the ability to perceive emotions from body movement. The impairment was global, i.e., affecting all emotions and equally present for males and females. The impairment was associated with neurocognition and functional capacity, but not symptom load. Our findings identify pathopsychological factors underlying the functional impairment in bipolar disorder and suggest the consideration of social cognition training as part of the treatment for bipolar disorder.

• Simonsen, Carmen Elisabeth; Færden, Ann; Romm, Kristin Lie; Berg, Akiah Ottesen; Bjella, Thomas & Sundet, Kjetil Søren [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2017). Early clinical recovery in first-episode psychosis: Symptomatic remission and its correlates at 1-year follow-up. Psychiatry Research. ISSN 0165-1781. 254, p. 118–125. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.04.050. Full text in Research Archive
• Engelstad, Katharina Nymo; Sundet, Kjetil Søren; Andreassen, Ole Andreas & Vaskinn, Anja (2017). Body language reading of emotion in schizophrenia: associations with symptoms and functional outcome. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. ISSN 0036-5564. 58(5), p. 359–366. doi: 10.1111/sjop.12381. Full text in Research Archive
• Berg, Akiah Ottesen; Melle, Ingrid; Zuber, Verena; Simonsen, Carmen Elisabeth; Nerhus, Mari & Ueland, Torill [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2017). Modelling difficulties in abstract thinking in psychosis: the importance of socio-developmental background. Cognitive Neuropsychiatry. ISSN 1354-6805. 22(1), p. 39–52. doi: 10.1080/13546805.2016.1259998. Full text in Research Archive
• Athanasiu, Lavinia; Giddaluru, Sudheer; Neto, Carla Patricia Duarte Fernande; Christoforou, Andrea; Reinvang, Ivar & Lundervold, Astri [Show all 17 contributors for this article] (2017). A genetic association study of CSMD1 and CSMD2 with cognitive function. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. ISSN 0889-1591. 61, p. 209–216. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2016.11.026. Full text in Research Archive
• Bjørke-Bertheussen, Janette; Schøyen, Helle Kristine; Andreassen, Ole Andreas; Malt, Ulrik Fredrik; Ødegaard, Ketil Joachim & Morken, Gunnar [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2017). Right unilateral electroconvulsive therapy does not cause more cognitive impairment than pharmacologic treatment in treatment-resistant bipolar depression: A 6-month randomized controlled trial follow-up study. Bipolar Disorders. ISSN 1398-5647. 20(6), p. 531–538. doi: 10.1111/bdi.12594. Full text in Research Archive
• Rund, Bjørn Rishovd; Barder, Helene; Evensen, Julie Horgen; Haahr, Ulrik; Hegelstad, Wenche & Joa, Inge [Show all 17 contributors for this article] (2016). Neurocognition and Duration of Psychosis: A 10-year Follow-up of First-Episode Patients. Schizophrenia Bulletin. ISSN 0586-7614. 42(1), p. 87–95. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbv083. Full text in Research Archive
• Vaskinn, Anja; Sundet, Kjetil Søren; Østefjells, Tiril; Nymo, Katharina Sørvang; Melle, Ingrid & Ueland, Torill (2016). Reading emotions from body movement: A generalized impairment in schizophrenia. Frontiers in Psychology. 6. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.02058. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Body language reading is a social cognitive process with importance for successful maneuvering of social situations. In this study, we investigated body language reading as assessed with human point-light displays in participants with a diagnosis of schizophrenia (n = 84) compared to healthy control participants (n = 84), aiming to answer three questions: (1) whether persons with a diagnosis of schizophrenia have poorer body language reading abilities than healthy persons; (2) whether some emotions are easier to read from body language than others, and if this is the same for individuals with schizophrenia and healthy individuals, and (3) whether there are sex differences in body language reading in participants with schizophrenia and healthy participants. A fourth research aim concerned associations of body language reading with symptoms and functioning in participants with schizophrenia. Scores on the body language reading measure was first standardized using a separate sample of healthy control participants (n = 101). Further results showed that persons with schizophrenia had impaired body language reading ability compared to healthy persons. A significant effect of emotion indicated that some emotions (happiness, neutral) were easier to recognize and this was so for both individuals with schizophrenia and healthy individuals. There were no sex differences for either diagnostic group. Body language reading ability was not associated with symptoms or functioning. In conclusion; schizophrenia was characterized by a global impairment in body language reading that was present for all emotions and across sex.

• Gunnarsson, Bjarni; Jonsdottir, Gudrun A; Bjornsdottir, Gyda; Konte, Bettina; Sulem, Patrick & Kristmundsdottir, Snædis [Show all 31 contributors for this article] (2016). A sequence variant associating with educational attainment also affects childhood cognition. Scientific Reports. 6. doi: 10.1038/srep36189. Full text in Research Archive
• Howrigan, Dave; Simonson, M.A.; Davies, Gail; Harris, SE; Tenesa, A. & Starr, JM [Show all 47 contributors for this article] (2016). Genome-wide autozygosity is associated with lower general cognitive ability. Molecular Psychiatry. ISSN 1359-4184. 21(6), p. 837–843. doi: 10.1038/mp.2015.120. Full text in Research Archive
• Haatveit, Beathe Christin; Vaskinn, Anja; Sundet, Kjetil Søren; Jensen, Jimmy Kristian; Andreassen, Ole Andreas & Melle, Ingrid [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2015). Stability of executive functions in first episode psychosis: One year follow up study. Psychiatry Research. ISSN 0165-1781. 228(3), p. 475–481. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2015.05.060. Full text in Research Archive
• Vaskinn, Anja; Ventura, Joseph; Andreassen, Ole Andreas; Melle, Ingrid & Sundet, Kjetil Søren (2015). A social path to functioning in schizophrenia: from social self-efficacy through negative symptoms to social functional capacity. Psychiatry Research. ISSN 0165-1781. 228(3), p. 803–807. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2015.05.019. Full text in Research Archive
• Dybedal, Gro Strømnes; Tanum, Lars; Sundet, Kjetil Søren & Bjølseth, Tor Magne (2015). The role of baseline cognitive function in the neurocognitive effects of electroconvulsive therapy in depressed elderly patients. The Clinical Neuropsychologist. ISSN 1385-4046. 29(4), p. 487–508. doi: 10.1080/13854046.2015.1050457. Full text in Research Archive
• Trampush, Joey W.; Lencz, Todd; Knowles, Emma; Davies, Gail; Guha, Saurav & Pe'er, Itsik [Show all 53 contributors for this article] (2015). Independent evidence for an association between general cognitive ability and a genetic locus for educational attainment. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics. ISSN 1552-4841. 168(5), p. 363–373. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32319. Full text in Research Archive
• Vaskinn, Anja; Antonsen, Bjørnar Torske; Fretland, Ragnhild Avdem; Dziobek, Isabel; Sundet, Kjetil Søren & Wilberg, Theresa (2015). Theory of mind in women with borderline personality disorder or schizophrenia: differences in overall ability and error patterns. Frontiers in Psychology. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01239. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Although borderline personality disorder (BPD) and schizophrenia (SZ) are notably different mental disorders, they share problems in social cognition—or understanding the feelings, intentions and thoughts of other people. To date no studies have directly compared the social cognitive abilities of individuals with these two disorders. In this study, the social cognitive subdomain theory of mind was investigated in women with BPD (n = 25), women with SZ (n = 25) and healthy women (n = 25). An ecologically valid video-based measure (Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition) was used. For the overall score, women with SZ performed markedly below both healthy women and women with BPD, whereas women with BPD did not perform significantly different compared to the healthy control group. A statistically significant error type × group interaction effect indicated that the groups differed with respect to kind of errors. Whereas women with BPD made mostly overmentalizing errors, women with SZ in addition committed undermentalizing errors. Our study suggests different magnitude and pattern of social cognitive problems in BPD and SZ.

• Vaskinn, Anja; Hartberg, Cecilie Bhandari; Sundet, Kjetil Søren; Westlye, Lars Tjelta; Andreassen, Ole Andreas & Melle, Ingrid [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2015). Brain structure characteristics in intellectually superior schizophrenia. Psychiatry Research : Neuroimaging. ISSN 0925-4927. 232(1), p. 123–129. doi: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2015.02.005. Full text in Research Archive
• Barder, Helene; Sundet, Kjetil Søren; Rund, Bjørn Rishovd; Evensen, Julie Horgen; Haahr, Ulrik & Hegelstad, Wenche [Show all 17 contributors for this article] (2015). Ten year course of IQ in first-episode psychosis: relationship between duration of psychsis and long-term intellectual trajectories. Psychiatry Research. ISSN 0165-1781. 225(3), p. 515–521. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2014.11.054. Full text in Research Archive
• Fretland, Ragnhild Avdem; Andersson, Stein; Sundet, Kjetil Søren; Andreassen, Ole Andreas; Melle, Ingrid & Vaskinn, Anja (2015). Theory of mind in schizophrenia: Error types and associations with symptoms. Schizophrenia Research. ISSN 0920-9964. 162(1-3), p. 42–46. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2015.01.024. Full text in Research Archive
• Vaskinn, Anja; Ueland, Toril; Melle, Ingrid; Agartz, Ingrid; Andreassen, Ole Andreas & Sundet, Kjetil Søren (2014). Neurocognitive decrements are present in intellectually superior schizophrenia. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 5(MAY). doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2014.00045. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Data suggest that individuals with schizophrenia (SZ) and superior intelligence can present without specific neurocognitive deficits. However, neurocognitive decrements, defined as worse cognition than expected, have been reported in practically all SZ cases. This study investigated if neurocognitive decrements are present in intellectually superior SZ by comparing the neuropsychological profile of SZ cases with IQ-matched healthy controls (HC) across intellectual levels. Participants with SZ and HCs were stratified into three IQ-groups; intellectually low (IQ 80–95; SZ n = 65 and HC n = 13), intellectually normal (IQ = 100–115; SZ n = 111 and HC n = 115), and intellectually superior (IQ = 120; SZ n = 20 and HC n = 50). A repeated measures multivariate analysis of co-variance compared performance on eight selected neuropsychological tests across IQ-strata and diagnostic group. Differences in clinical characteristics and social functioning in SZ across IQ-strata were investigated with multivariate and univariate analyses of variance. Intellectually superior SZ participants scored within normal limits, but had neurocognitive decrements compared to superior HCs. Decrements were of the same magnitude as in the low and normal IQ-strata. Levels of functional impairments and clinical characteristics in participants with SZ did not differ significantly across IQ-strata. Results indicate that neurocognitive decrements are present in intellectually superior SZ to the same extent as in intellectually low and intellectually normal SZ, supporting the notion that SZ is a neurocognitive disorder. Similar levels of social functional deficits and clinical symptoms suggest similar disease processes in SZ across intellectual level.

• Dybedal, Gro Strømnes; Tanum, Lars; Sundet, Kjetil Søren; Gaarden, Torfinn & Bjølseth, Tor Magne (2014). Cognitive side-effects of electroconvulsive therapy in elderly depressed patients. The Clinical Neuropsychologist. ISSN 1385-4046. 28(7), p. 1071–1090. doi: 10.1080/13854046.2014.958536. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Knowledge about cognitive side-effects induced by electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in depressed elderly patients is sparse. In this study we investigated changes in the cognitive functioning of non-demented elderly depressed patients receiving ECT (n = 62) compared with healthy elderly people (n = 17). Neuropsychological tests were administered at the start of treatment and again within 1 week after treatment. We computed reliable change indices (RCIs) using simple regression methods. RCIs are statistical methods for analyzing change in individuals that have not yet been used in studies of the acute cognitive side-effects of ECT. At the group level, only letter fluency performance was found to be significantly reduced in the ECT group compared with the controls, whereas both groups demonstrated stable or improved performance on all other measures. At the individual level, however, 11% of patients showed retrograde amnesia for public facts post-ECT and 40% of the patients showed a significant decline in neuropsychological functioning. Decline on a measure of delayed verbal anterograde memory was most common. Our findings indicate that there are mild neurocognitive impairments in the acute phase for a substantial minority of elderly patients receiving ECT. Analysis of reliable change facilitated the illumination of cognitive side-effects in our sample.

• Ramtvedt, Bjørn Erik; Aabech, Henning & Sundet, Kjetil Søren (2014). Minimizing adverse events while maintaining clinical improvement in a pediatric attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder crossover trial with dextroamphetamine and methylphenidate. Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology. ISSN 1044-5463. 24(3), p. 130–139. doi: 10.1089/cap.2013.0114. Full text in Research Archive
• Kessler, Ute; Schøyen, Helle Kristine; Andreassen, Ole Andreas; Eide, Geir Egil; Malt, Ulrik Fredrik & Ødegaard, Kjetil [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2014). The effect of electroconvulsive therapy on neurocognitive function in treatment-resistant bipolar disorder depression. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. ISSN 0160-6689. 75(11), p. e1306–e1313. doi: 10.4088/JCP.13m08960. Full text in Research Archive
• Brandt, Christine Lycke; Eichele, Tom; Melle, Ingrid; Sundet, Kjetil Søren; SERVER, ANDRES & Agartz, Ingrid [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2014). Working memory networks and activation patterns in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: comparison with healthy controls. British Journal of Psychiatry. ISSN 0007-1250. 204(4), p. 290–298. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.113.129254. Full text in Research Archive
• Ramtvedt, Bjørn Erik & Sundet, Kjetil Søren (2014). Relationship between computer-based testing and behavioral ratings in the assessment of attention and activity in a pediatric ADHD stimulant crossover trial. The Clinical Neuropsychologist. ISSN 1385-4046. 28(7), p. 1146–1161. doi: 10.1080/13854046.2014.960453. Full text in Research Archive
• Lencz, T; Knowles, Emily; Davies, G; Guha, S; Liewald, DC & Starr, JM [Show all 46 contributors for this article] (2014). Molecular genetic evidence for overlap between general cognitive ability and risk for schizophrenia: A report from the Cognitive Genomics consorTium (COGENT). Molecular Psychiatry. ISSN 1359-4184. 19(2), p. 168–174. doi: 10.1038/mp.2013.166. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  It has long been recognized that generalized deficits in cognitive ability represent a core component of schizophrenia (SCZ), evident before full illness onset and independent of medication. The possibility of genetic overlap between risk for SCZ and cognitive phenotypes has been suggested by the presence of cognitive deficits in first-degree relatives of patients with SCZ; however, until recently, molecular genetic approaches to test this overlap have been lacking. Within the last few years, large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of SCZ have demonstrated that a substantial proportion of the heritability of the disorder is explained by a polygenic component consisting of many common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of extremely small effect. Similar results have been reported in GWAS of general cognitive ability. The primary aim of the present study is to provide the first molecular genetic test of the classic endophenotype hypothesis, which states that alleles associated with reduced cognitive ability should also serve to increase risk for SCZ. We tested the endophenotype hypothesis by applying polygenic SNP scores derived from a large-scale cognitive GWAS meta-analysis (~5000 individuals from nine nonclinical cohorts comprising the Cognitive Genomics consorTium (COGENT)) to four SCZ case-control cohorts. As predicted, cases had significantly lower cognitive polygenic scores compared to controls. In parallel, polygenic risk scores for SCZ were associated with lower general cognitive ability. In addition, using our large cognitive meta-analytic data set, we identified nominally significant cognitive associations for several SNPs that have previously been robustly associated with SCZ susceptibility. Results provide molecular confirmation of the genetic overlap between SCZ and general cognitive ability, and may provide additional insight into pathophysiology of the disorder.

• Ramtvedt, Bjørn Erik; Sandvik, Leiv & Sundet, Kjetil Søren (2014). Correspondence between children's and adult's ratings of stimulant-induced changes in ADHD behaviours in a crossover trial with medication-naive children. European Journal of Developmental Psychology. ISSN 1740-5629. 11(6), p. 687–700. doi: 10.1080/17405629.2014.927760. Full text in Research Archive
• Mohn, Christine; Sundet, Kjetil Søren & Rund, Bjørn Rishovd (2014). The relationship between IQ and performance on the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery. Schizophrenia Research: Cognition. 1, p. 96–100. doi: 10.1016/j.scog.2014.06.003. Full text in Research Archive
• Barder, Helene; Sundet, Kjetil Søren; Rund, Bjørn Rishovd; Evensen, Julie Horgen; Haahr, Ulrik & Hegelstad, Wenche [Show all 17 contributors for this article] (2013). Neurocognitive development in first episode psychosis 5 years follow-up: associations between illness severity and cognitive course. Schizophrenia Research. ISSN 0920-9964. 149(1-3), p. 63–69. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2013.06.016. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Cognitive deficits are documented in first-episode psychosis (FEP), but the continuing course is not fully understood. The present study examines the longitudinal development of neurocognitive function in a five year follow-up of FEP-patients, focusing on the relation to illness severity, as measured by relapses and diagnostic subgroups. The study is an extension of previous findings from the TIPS-project, reporting stability over the first two years. Sixty-two FEP patients (53% male, age 28 ± 9 years) were neuropsychologically examined at baseline and at 1, 2, and 5 year follow-ups. The test battery was divided into five indices; Verbal Learning, Executive Function, Impulsivity, Motor Speed, and Working Memory. To investigate the effect of illness severity, the sample was divided in groups based on number of relapses, and diagnostic subgroups, respectively. Impulsivity and Working Memory improved significantly in the first two years, followed by no change over the next three years. Motor Speed decreased significantly from 2 to 5 years. Number of relapses was significantly related to Verbal Learning and Working Memory, showing a small decrease and less improvement, respectively, in patients with two or more episodes. No significant association was found with diagnostic group. Neurocognitive stability as well as change was found in a sample of FEP-patients examined repeatedly over 5 years. Of potential greater importance for understanding how psychotic illnesses progress, is the finding of significant associations between neurocognition and number of relapses but not diagnostic group, indicating that neurocognition is more related to recurring psychotic episodes than to the descriptive diagnosis per se.

• Dybedal, Gro Strømnes; Tanum, Lars; Sundet, Kjetil Søren; Gaarden, Torfinn Lødøen & Bjølseth, Tor Magne (2013). Neuropsychological functioning in late-life depression. Frontiers in Psychology. 4(381). doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00381. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: The literature describing neurocognitive function in patients with late-life depression (LLD) show inconsistent findings in regard to incidence and main deficits. Reduced information processing speed is in some studies found to explain deficits in higher order cognitive function, while other studies report specific deficits in memory and executive function. Our aim was to determine the characteristics of neuropsychological functioning in non-demented LLD patients. Methods: A comprehensive neuropsychological battery was administered to a group of hospitalized LLD patients and healthy control (HC) subjects. Thirty-nine patients without dementia, 60 years or older meeting DSM-IV criteria for current episode of major depression, and 18 non-depressed control subjects were included. The patient group was characterized by having a long lasting current depressive episode of late-onset depression and by being non-responders to treatment with antidepressants. Neurocognitive scores were calculated for the domains of information processing speed, verbal memory, visuospatial memory, executive function, and language. Number of impairments (performance below the 10th percentile of the control group per domain) for each participant was calculated. Results: Nearly half of the patients had a clinically significant cognitive impairment in at least one neurocognitive domain. Relative to HC subjects, LLD patients performed significantly poorer in the domains of information processing speed and executive function. Executive abilities were most frequently impaired in the patient group (39% of the patients). Even when controlling for differences in processing speed, patients showed more executive deficits than controls. Conclusions: Controlling for processing speed, patients still showed impaired executive function compared to HCs. Reduced executive function thus appears to be the core neurocognitive deficit in LLD. Executive function seems to be an umbrella concept for several connected but distinct cognitive functions. Further studies of neuropsychological functioning in LLD patients are needed to characterize more specific what kinds of executive impairments patients have. Additional studies of remitted LLD patients are needed to separate episode-related and persistent impairments.

• Ramtvedt, Bjørn Erik; Røinås, Elisabeth; Aabech, Henning & Sundet, Kjetil Søren (2013). Clinical gains from including both dextroamphetamine and methylphenidate in stimulant trials. Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology. ISSN 1044-5463. 23(9), p. 597–604. doi: 10.1089/cap.2012.0085. Full text in Research Archive
• Peleikis, Dawn Elisabeth; Varga, Monica; Sundet, Kjetil Søren; Lorentzen, Steinar; Agartz, Ingrid & Andreassen, Ole Andreas (2013). Schizophrenia patients with and without Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) have different mood symptom levels but same cognitive functioning. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. ISSN 0001-690X. 127(6), p. 455–463. doi: 10.1111/acps.12041. Full text in Research Archive
• Jónsdóttir, Halldóra; Ilner, Stein E. Opjordsmoen; Birkenæs, Astrid Brate; Simonsen, Carmen Elisabeth; Engh, John & Ringen, Petter Andreas [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2013). Predictors of medication adherence in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. ISSN 0001-690X. 127(1), p. 23–33. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2012.01911.x. Full text in Research Archive
• Ringen, Petter Andreas; Melle, Ingrid; Berg, Akiah Ottesen; Agartz, Ingrid; Spigset, Olav & Simonsen, Carmen Elisabeth [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2013). Cannabis use and premorbid functioning as predictors of poorer neurocognition in schizophrenia spectrum disorder. Schizophrenia Research. ISSN 0920-9964. 143(1), p. 84–89. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2012.10.021. Full text in Research Archive
• Tandberg, Marte; Sundet, Kjetil Søren; Andreassen, Ole Andreas; Melle, Ingrid & Ueland, Toril (2013). Occupational functioning, symptoms and neurocognition in patients with psychotic disorders: investigating subgroups based on social security status. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. ISSN 0933-7954. 48(6), p. 863–874. doi: 10.1007/s00127-012-0598-2. Full text in Research Archive
• Barder, Helene; Sundet, Kjetil Søren; Rund, Bjørn Rishovd; Evensen, Julie Horgen; Haahr, Ulrik & Hegelstad, Wenche [Show all 17 contributors for this article] (2013). Ten year neurocognitive trajectories in first-episode psychosis. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 7. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00643. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Objective: Neurocognitive impairment is commonly reported at onset of psychotic disorders. However, the long-term neurocognitive course remains largely uninvestigated in first episode psychosis (FEP) and the relationship to clinically significant subgroups even more so. We report 10 year longitudinal neurocognitive development in a sample of FEP patients, and explore whether the trajectories of cognitive course are related to presence of relapse to psychosis, especially within the first year, with a focus on the course of verbal memory. Method: Forty-three FEP subjects (51% male, 28 ± 9 years) were followed-up neurocognitively over five assessments spanning 10 years. The test battery was divided into four neurocognitive indices; Executive Function, Verbal Learning, Motor Speed, and Verbal Fluency. The sample was grouped into those relapsing or not within the first, second and fifth year. Results: The four neurocognitive indices showed overall stability over the 10 year period. Significant relapse by index interactions were found for all indices except Executive Function. Follow-up analyses identified a larger significant decrease over time for the encoding measure within Verbal Memory for patients with psychotic relapse in the first year [F(4, 38) = 5.8, p = 0.001, η2 = 0.40]. Conclusions: Main findings are long-term stability in neurocognitive functioning in FEP patients, with the exception of verbal memory in patients with psychotic relapse or non-remission early in the course of illness. We conclude that worsening of specific parts of cognitive function may be expected for patients with on-going psychosis, but that the majority of patients do not show significant change in cognitive performance during the first 10 years after being diagnosed.

• Hellvin, Tone; Sundet, Kjetil Søren; Aminoff, Sofie Ragnhild; Andreassen, Ole Andreas & Melle, Ingrid (2013). Social functioning in firste contact mania: clinical and neurocognitive correlates. Comprehensive Psychiatry. ISSN 0010-440X. 54(5), p. 432–438. doi: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2012.12.016. Full text in Research Archive
• Mohn, Christine; Sundet, Kjetil Søren & Rund, Bjørn Rishovd (2013). Standardisering av MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) for bruk i Norge. Tidsskrift for Norsk psykologforening (Psykologtidsskriftet). ISSN 0332-6470. 50, p. 989–991. Full text in Research Archive
• Vaskinn, Anja; Sundet, Kjetil Søren; Ueland, Toril; Agartz, Ingrid; Melle, Ingrid & Andreassen, Ole Andreas (2013). Social cognition and clinical insight in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. ISSN 0022-3018. 201(6), p. 445–451. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0b013e31829480c8. Full text in Research Archive
• Kessler, Ute; Schøyen, Helle Kristine; Andreassen, Ole Andreas; Eide, Geir Egil; Hammar, Åsa & Malt, Ulrik Fredrik [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2013). Neurocognitive profiles in treatment-resistant bipolar I and bipolar II disorder depression. BMC Psychiatry. 13. doi: 10.1186/1471-244X-13-105. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: The literature on the neuropsychological profiles in Bipolar disorder (BD) depression is sparse. The aims of the study were to assess the neurocognitive profiles in treatment-resistant, acutely admitted BD depression inpatients, to compare the neurocognitive functioning in patients with BD I and II, and to identify the demographic and clinical illness characteristics associated with cognitive functioning. Methods: Acutely admitted BD I (n = 19) and BD II (n = 32) inpatients who fulfilled the DSM-IV-TR criteria for a major depressive episode were tested with the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB), the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence, the National Adult Reading Test, and a battery of clinical measures. Results: Neurocognitive impairments were evident in the BD I and BD II depression inpatients within all MCCB domains. The numerical scores on all MCCB-measures were lower in the BD I group than in the BD II group, with a significant difference on one of the measures, category fluency. 68.4% of the BD I patients had clinically significant impairment (>1.5 SD below normal mean) in two or more domains compared to 37.5% of the BD II patients (p = 0.045). A significant reduction in IQ from the premorbid to the current level was seen in BD I but not BD II patients. Higher age was associated with greater neurocognitive deficits compared to age-adjusted published norms. Conclusions: A high proportion of patients with therapy-resistant BD I or II depression exhibited global neurocognitive impairments with clinically significant severity. The cognitive impairments were more common in BD I compared to BD II patients, particularly processing speed. These findings suggest that clinicians should be aware of the severe neurocognitive dysfunction in treatment-resistant bipolar depression, particularly in BD I. Keywords: Bipolar disorder depression, Cognitive functioning, MATRICS, IQ, Bipolar II disorder

• Schøyen, Helle Kristine; Melle, Ingrid; Sundet, Kjetil Søren; Aminoff, Sofie Ragnhild; Hellvin, Tone & Auestad, Bjørn Henrik [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2013). Occupational outcome in bipolar disorder is not predicted by premorbid functioning and intelligence. Bipolar Disorders. ISSN 1398-5647. 15(3), p. 294–305. doi: 10.1111/bdi.12056. Full text in Research Archive
• Aas, Monica; Haukvik, Unn Kristin H.; Djurovic, Srdjan; Bergmann, Ørjan; Athanasiu, Lavinia & Tesli, Martin Steen [Show all 13 contributors for this article] (2013). BDNF val66met modulates the association between childhood trauma, cognitive and brain abnormalities in psychoses. Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry. ISSN 0278-5846. 46, p. 181–188. doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2013.07.008. Full text in Research Archive
• Bourne, Corin; Aydemir, Ömer; Balanzá-Maríinez, Vicent; Bora, Emre; Brissos, Sofia & Cavanagh, Jonathan T.O. [Show all 43 contributors for this article] (2013). Neuropsychological testing of cognitive impairment in euthymic bipolar disorder: an individual patient data meta-analysis. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. ISSN 0001-690X. 128(3), p. 149–162. doi: 10.1111/acps.12133. Full text in Research Archive
• Evensen, Julie Horgen; Røssberg, Jan Ivar; Barder, Helene; Haahr, Ulrik; Hegelstad, Wenche & Joa, Inge [Show all 16 contributors for this article] (2012). Apathy in first episode psychosis patients: A ten year longitudinal follow-up study. Schizophrenia Research. ISSN 0920-9964. 136(1-3), p. 19–24. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2011.12.019. Full text in Research Archive
• Hellvin, Tone; Sundet, Kjetil Søren; Simonsen, Carmen Elisabeth; Aminoff, Sofie Ragnhild; Lagerberg, Trine Vik & Andreassen, Ole Andreas [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2012). Neurocognitive functioning in patients recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Bipolar Disorders. ISSN 1398-5647. 14(3), p. 227–238. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-5618.2012.01004.x. Full text in Research Archive
• Aas, Monica; Steen, Nils Eiel; Agartz, Ingrid; Aminoff, Sofie Ragnhild; Lorentzen, Steinar & Sundet, Kjetil Søren [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2012). Is cognitive impairment following early life stress in severe mental disorders based on specific or general cognitive functioning? Psychiatry Research. ISSN 0165-1781. 198(3), p. 495–500. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2011.12.045. Full text in Research Archive
• Tandberg, Marte; Ueland, Torill; Andreassen, Ole Andreas; Sundet, Kjetil Søren & Melle, Ingrid (2012). Factors associated with occupational and academic status in patients with first-episode psychosis with a particular focus on neurocognition. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. ISSN 0933-7954. 47(11), p. 1763–1773. doi: 10.1007/s00127-012-0477-x. Full text in Research Archive
• Aas, Monica; Djurovic, Srdjan; Athanasiu, Lavinia; Steen, Nils Eiel; Agartz, Ingrid & Lorentzen, Steinar [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2012). Serotonin Transporter Gene Polymorphism, Childhood Trauma, and Cognition in Patients With Psychotic Disorders. Schizophrenia Bulletin. ISSN 0586-7614. 38(1), p. 15–22. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbr113. Full text in Research Archive
• Wirgenes, Katrine Verena; Sønderby, Ida Elken; Haukvik, Unn Kristin H.; Mattingsdal, Morten; Tesli, Martin Steen & Athanasiu, Lavinia [Show all 14 contributors for this article] (2012). TCF4 sequence variants and mRNA levels are associated with neurodevelopmental characteristics in psychotic disorders. Translational Psychiatry. 2(e112). doi: 10.1038/tp.2012.39. Full text in Research Archive
• Holmen, Aina; Juuhl-Langseth, Monica; Thormodsen, Rune; Ueland, Toril; Agartz, Ingrid & Sundet, Kjetil Søren [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2012). Executive function in early- and adult onset schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Research. ISSN 0920-9964. 142(1-3), p. 177–182. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2012.10.006. Full text in Research Archive
• Andreassen, Ole Andreas & Sundet, Kjetil Søren (2012). Kognitive funksjoner ved bipolare lidelser. In Haver, Brit; Ødegaard, Ketil Joachim & Fasmer, Ole Bernt (Ed.), Bipolare lidelser. Fagbokforlaget. ISSN 9788245005851. p. 253–264. Full text in Research Archive
• Halvorsen, Marianne; Høifødt, Ragnhild Sørensen; Myrbakk, Ingvild Nordnes; Wang, Catharina E.; Sundet, Kjetil Søren & Eisemann, Martin [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2012). Cognitive function in unipolar major depression: A comparison of currently depressed, previously depressed, and never depressed individuals. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology. ISSN 1380-3395. 34(7), p. 782–790. doi: 10.1080/13803395.2012.683853. Full text in Research Archive
• Aminoff, Sofie Ragnhild; Jensen, Jimmy Kristian; Lagerberg, Trine Vik; Hellvin, Tone; Sundet, Kjetil Søren & Andreassen, Ole Andreas [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2012). An association between affective lability and executive functioning in bipolar disorder. Psychiatry Research. ISSN 0165-1781. 198(1), p. 58–61. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2011.12.044. Full text in Research Archive
• Holmen, Aina; Juuhl-Langseth, Monica; Thormodsen, Rune; Sundet, Kjetil Søren; Melle, Ingrid & Rund, Bjørn Rishovd (2012). Executive function tests in early-onset psychosis: which one to choose? Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. ISSN 0036-5564. 53(3), p. 200–205. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9450.2012.00940.x. Full text in Research Archive
• Hegelstad, Wenche; Larsen, Tor Kjetil; Auestad, Bjørn Henrik; Evensen, Julie Horgen; Haahr, Ulrik & Joa, Inge [Show all 17 contributors for this article] (2012). Long-Term Follow-Up of the TIPS Early Detection in Psychosis Study: Effects on 10-Year Outcome. American Journal of Psychiatry. ISSN 0002-953X. 169(4), p. 374–380. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2011.11030459. Full text in Research Archive
• Hrubos-Strøm, Harald; Nordhus, Inger Hilde; Einvik, Gunnar; Randby, Anna; Omland, Torbjørn & Sundet, Kjetil Søren [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2012). Obstructive sleep apnea, verbal memory, and executive function in a community-based high-risk population identified by the Berlin Questionnaire Akershus Sleep Apnea Project. Sleep and Breathing. ISSN 1520-9512. 16(1), p. 223–231. doi: 10.1007/s11325-011-0493-1. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Purpose: Cognitive functions in community-dwelling adults at high risk of obstructive sleep apnea have not been described and nor are associations between cognitive functions and obstructive sleep apnea severity fully understood. The study aimed to describe verbal memory and executive function in community-dwelling adults identified by the Berlin Questionnaire and to investigate associations between these cognitive domains and different obstructive sleep apnea severity indicators. Methods: Among 29,258 age- and gender-stratified persons 30–65 years who received the Berlin Questionnaire by mail, 16,302 (55.7%) responded. From 654 randomly drawn respondents with BQ high risk who were approached for study participation, 290 participants (55.9% males, mean age 48.2 years) were included. Verbal memory was assessed by Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test and executive function by Stroop test. Obstructive sleep apnea severity indicators were assessed by polysomnography. Results: Mean (standard deviation) verbal learning score was 42.0 (8.9), mean interference time was 31.1 (12.7), median (25th percentile, 75th percentile) apnea–hypopnea index was 7.7 (2.4–22.2), and mean average oxygen saturation was 94.3 (2.0). Verbal learning score was independently associated with average oxygen saturation (β = 0.721, p = 0.025) in multivariate linear regression models adjusted for putative confounders. Interference time was only related to OSA severity indicators in bivariate analyses. Conclusions: Verbal memory and executive function impairments were mild in community-dwelling adults at high risk of obstructive sleep apnea. Average oxygen saturation was the indicator of obstructive sleep apnea severity most strongly associated with cognitive function.

• Malt, Ulrik Fredrik; Andersson, Stein & Sundet, Kjetil Søren (2012). Supplerende ikke-biologiske undersøkelsesmetoder. In Andreassen, Ole Andreas (Eds.), Lærebok i psykiatri. Gyldendal Akademisk. ISSN 9788205397392. p. 173–193. Full text in Research Archive
• Sundet, Kjetil Søren & Reinvang, Ivar (2012). Nevropsykologisk undersøkelse ved alvorlige sinnslidelser: metodikk og funn. In Fladby, Tormod; Andersson, Stein & Gjerstad, Leif (Ed.), Nevropsykiatri : metoder og kliniske perspektiver. Gyldendal Akademisk. ISSN 9788205412149. p. 111–115. Full text in Research Archive
• Mohn, Christine; Sundet, Kjetil Søren & Rund, Bjørn Rishovd (2012). The Norwegian standardization of the MATRICS (Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia) Consensus Cognitive Battery. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology. ISSN 1380-3395. 34(6), p. 667–677. doi: 10.1080/13803395.2012.667792. Full text in Research Archive
• LeBlanc, Marissa; Kulle, Bettina; Sundet, Kjetil Søren; Agartz, Ingrid; Melle, Ingrid & Djurovic, Srdjan [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2012). Genome-wide study identifies PTPRO and WDR72 and FOXQ1-SUMO1P1 interaction associated with neurocognitive function. Journal of Psychiatric Research. ISSN 0022-3956. 46(2), p. 271–278. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2011.11.001. Full text in Research Archive
• Simonsen, Carmen Elisabeth; Sundet, Kjetil Søren; Vaskinn, Anja; Birkenæs, Astrid Brate; Engh, John & Færden, Ann [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2011). Neurocognitive dysfunction in bipolar and schizophrenia spectrum disorders depends on history of psychosis rather than diagnostic group. Schizophrenia Bulletin. ISSN 0586-7614. 37(1), p. 73–83. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbp034. Full text in Research Archive
• Hartberg, Cecilie Bhandari; Sundet, Kjetil Søren; Rimol, Lars Morten; Haukvik, Unn Kristin H.; Lange, Elisabeth & Nesvåg, Ragnar [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2011). Subcortical brain volumes relate to neurocognition in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and healthy controls. Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry. ISSN 0278-5846. 35(4), p. 1122–1130. doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2011.03.014. Full text in Research Archive
• Vaskinn, Anja; Sundet, Kjetil Søren; Simonsen, Carmen Elisabeth; Hellvin, Tone; Melle, Ingrid & Andreassen, Ole Andreas (2011). Sex differences in neuropsychological performance and social functioning in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Neuropsychology. ISSN 0894-4105. 25, p. 499–510. doi: 10.1037/a0022677. Full text in Research Archive
• Bakken, Trygve E.; Bloss, Cinnamon S.; Roddey, Cooper; Joyner, Alexander H.; Rimol, Lars Morten & Djurovic, Srdjan [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2011). Association of genetic variants on 15q12 with cortical thickness and cognition in schizophrenia. Archives of General Psychiatry. ISSN 0003-990X. 68(8), p. 781–790. doi: 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.81. Full text in Research Archive
• Heiervang, Kristin Sverdvik; Mednick, Sarnoff; Sundet, Kjetil Søren & Rund, Bjørn Rishovd (2011). The psychological well-being of Norwegian adolescents exposed in utero to radiation from the Chernobyl accident. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health (CAPMH). 5(12). doi: 10.1186/1753-2000-5-12. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background On 26 April 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant suffered an accident. Several areas of central Norway were heavily affected by far field radioactive fallout. The present study focuses on the psychological well-being of adolescents who were exposed to this radiation as fetuses. Methods The adolescents (n = 53) and their mothers reported their perceptions of the adolescents' current psychological health as measured by the Youth Self Report and Child Behaviour Checklist. Results In spite of previous reports of subtle cognitive deficits in these exposed adolescents, there were few self-reported problems and fewer problems reported by the mothers. This contrasts with findings of studies of children from the former Soviet Union exposed in utero, in which objective measures are inconsistent, and self-reports, especially by mothers, express concern for adolescents' cognitive functioning and psychological well-being. Conclusion In the current paper, we explore possible explanations for this discrepancy and suggest that protective factors in Norway, in addition to perceived physical and psychological distance from the disaster, made the mothers less vulnerable to Chernobyl-related anxiety, thus preventing a negative effect on the psychological health of both mother and child.

• Tandberg, Marte; Ueland, Toril; Sundet, Kjetil Søren; Haahr, Ulrik; Joa, Inge & Johannessen, Jan Olav [Show all 15 contributors for this article] (2011). Neurocognition and occupational functioning in patients with first-episode psychosis: a 2-year follow-up study. Psychiatry Research. ISSN 0165-1781. 188(3), p. 334–342. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2011.04.021. Full text in Research Archive
• Sundet, Kjetil Søren (2011). Nevropsykologisk funksjonssvikt ved schizofreni. In Rund, Bjørn Rishovd (Eds.), Schizofreni. Hertervig Akademisk. ISSN 9788282170222. p. 102–117. Full text in Research Archive

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• Davies, Gail; Lam, Max; Harris, Sarah E.; Trampush, Joey W.; Luciano, Michelle & Hill, W. David [Show all 222 contributors for this article] (2019). Author Correction: Study of 300,486 individuals identifies 148 independent genetic loci influencing general cognitive function (Nature Communications, (2018), 9, 1, (2098), 10.1038/s41467-018-04362-x). Nature Communications. 10(1). doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-10160-w. Full text in Research Archive
• Lam, Max; Trampush, Joey W.; Yu, Jin; Knowles, Emma; Djurovic, Srdjan & Melle, Ingrid [Show all 61 contributors for this article] (2018). Multi-Trait analysis of gwas and biological insights into cognition: A response to Hill (2018). Twin Research and Human Genetics. ISSN 1832-4274. 21(5), p. 394–397. doi: 10.1017/thg.2018.46. Full text in Research Archive
• Sundet, Kjetil Søren; Grüner, Renate; Larøi, Frank & Rönnberg, Jerker (2018). Brain, mind and behavior: a tribute to Kenneth Hugdahl. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. ISSN 0036-5564. 59(1), p. 1–2. doi: 10.1111/SJOP.12423. Full text in Research Archive
• Sundet, Kjetil Søren (2017). Eksekutiv funksjonssvikt ved schizofreni. BestPractice Psykiatri/Nevrologi/Geriatri. 8(32). Full text in Research Archive
• Vaskinn, Anja; Hartberg, Cecilie Bhandari; Sundet, Kjetil Søren; Westlye, Lars Tjelta; Andreassen, Ole Andreas & Melle, Ingrid [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2015). To the editors: Reply to Anna R. Docherty. Psychiatry Research. ISSN 0165-1781. doi: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2015.07.022. Full text in Research Archive
• Aas, Monica; Djurovic, Srdjan; Sundet, Kjetil Søren; Andreassen, Ole Andreas & Melle, Ingrid (2014). Is physical exercise associated with increased BDNF mRNA and improved cognition in patients with psychoses. Full text in Research Archive
• Aas, Monica; Djurovic, Srdjan; Sundet, Kjetil Søren; Andreassen, Ole A. & Melle, Ingrid (2014). Is physical exercise associated with increased BDNF mRNA and improved cognition in patients with psychoses? Full text in Research Archive
• Lundervold, Astri; Walhovd, Kristine B; Rönnberg, Jerker & Sundet, Kjetil Søren (2014). New perspectives in neuropsychology. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. ISSN 0036-5564. 55(3), p. 187–188. doi: 10.1111/sjop.12135. Full text in Research Archive
• Dybedal, Gro Strømnes; Tanum, Lars; Sundet, Kjetil Søren; Gaarden, Torfinn & Bjølseth, Tor Magne (2014). Kognitive bivirkninger av elektrokonvulsiv behandling (ECT) ved depresjon. Full text in Research Archive
• Sundet, Kjetil Søren (2013). Æresmedlem: Ivar Reinvang. 16, p. 4–5. Full text in Research Archive
• Friis, Svein; Barder, Helene; Evensen, Julie Horgen; Haahr, Ulrik; Hegelstad, Wenche ten Velden & Joa, Inge [Show all 17 contributors for this article] (2012). The TIPS study and bias: Replies to Dr Amos. Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry (Print). ISSN 0004-8674. 46(9), p. 905–907. doi: 10.1177/0004867412451344. Full text in Research Archive
• Barder, Helene; Sundet, Kjetil Søren; Rund, Bjørn Rishovd; Haar, Ulrik; Johannessen, Jan Olav & Larsen, Tor Ketil [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2012). Neurocognitive development in first-episode psychosis 5-year follow-up: associations between illness severity and cognitive course. Early Intervention in Psychiatry. ISSN 1751-7885. 6, p. 27–27. Full text in Research Archive
• Kessler, Ute; Schøyen, Helle Kristine; Andreassen, Ole Andreas; Bergsholm, Per; Eide, Geir Egil & Hammar, Åsa [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2012). The neurocognitive profile in depressed therapy resistant bipolar disorder inpatients. Bipolar Disorders. ISSN 1398-5647. 14, p. 91–91. Full text in Research Archive
• Aas, Monica; Djurovic, Srdjan; Athanasiu, Lavinia; Tesli, Martin Steen; Hellvin, Tone & Steen, Nils Eiel [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2012). Interaction between (BDNF) VAL66Met, childhood adverse events and impaired cognition in patients with schizophrenia spectrum and bipolar disorder. Early Intervention in Psychiatry. ISSN 1751-7885. 6, p. 45–45. Full text in Research Archive
• Vaskinn, Anja; Simonsen, Carmen Elisabeth; Hellvin, Tone; Melle, Ingrid; Andreassen, Ole Andreas & Sundet, Kjetil Søren (2011). SEX DIFFERENCES IN NEUROCOGNITIVE PERFORMANCE ACROSS PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS. Schizophrenia Bulletin. ISSN 0586-7614. 37, p. 255–255. Full text in Research Archive
• Ringen, Petter Andreas; Melle, Ingrid; Berg, Akiah Ottesen; Simonsen, Carmen Elisabeth; Agartz, Ingrid & Sundet, Kjetil Søren [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2011). THC IN URINE IN SCHIZOPHRENIA: ASSOCIATIONS WITH SYMPTOM LEVELS AND NEUROCOGNITIVE FUNCTIONING. Schizophrenia Bulletin. ISSN 0586-7614. 37, p. 279–280. Full text in Research Archive
• McGlashan, Thomas H.; Evensen, Julie Horgen; Haahr, J.; Hegelstad, Wenche; Joa, Inge & Johannessen, Jan Olav [Show all 16 contributors for this article] (2011). EARLY DETECTION AND INTERVENTION (EDI) IN FIRST EPISODE PSYCHOSIS: CAN IT IN CREASE THE CHANCE FOR FULL RECOVERY? TIPS 10 YEAR FINDINGS. Schizophrenia Bulletin. ISSN 0586-7614. 37, p. 273–274. Full text in Research Archive
• Friis, Svein; Evensen, Julie Horgen; Haahr, Ulrik; Hegelstad, Wenche; Joa, Inge & Johannessen, O [Show all 16 contributors for this article] (2011). Early Detection and Intervention(EDI) in first episode psychosis: Can it reduce the risk for poor outcome? Tips 10 years findings. Schizophrenia Bulletin. ISSN 0586-7614. 37, p. 98–98. Full text in Research Archive
• Halvorsen, Marianne; Høifødt, Ragnhild Sørensen; Myrbakk, Ingvild Nordnes; Wang, Catharina E.; Sundet, Kjetil Søren & Eisemann, Martin [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2011). Cognitive function in unipolar major depression: A comparison of clinically depressed, previously depressed and never depressed individuals. Full text in Research Archive

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