Understanding barriers and optimizing socio‐cognitive assessment in the diagnosis of neurocognitive disorders

Harmonized neuropsychological assessment for neurocognitive disorders (NCDs) is an urgent priority in clinics. Neuropsychology assessments in NCDs seldom include tests exploring social cognitive skills. In 2022, we launched the SIGNATURE initiative to optimize socio-cognitive assessment in NCDs. Here, we report findings from the first initiative phase, including consortium creation and evaluation of the state of the art in socio-cognitive assessment in memory clinics. We developed an ad hoc online survey to explore practices and measures, relevance, and obstacles preventing the use of socio-cognitive testing in clinics. The survey was distributed within the SIGNATURE network. National coordinators were identified to disseminate the survey to local collaborators and scientific societies active in the field of dementia and/or neuropsychology. Data were analysed in aggregate form and stratified by geographical area and variables of interest. Four hundred and thirteen (413) responses from 10 European and Latin American geographical regions were recorded. Responders were balanced between physicians and psychologists. Seventy-eight (78) % of respondents reported no/limited experience with socio-cognitive measures; more than 85% agreed on their relevance in clinics. Ekman-60 faces was the most well-known and/or used task, followed by the Faux-Pas and Reading-the-Mind-in-the-Eyes tests. Lack of clinical measures, assessment time, guidelines, and education/training were reported as main obstacles. Real-life barriers prevent the adoption of socio-cognitive testing in clinics. Bidirectional collaboration between clinicians and researchers is required to address clinical needs and constraints and facilitate consistent socio-cognitive assessment.

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Publication Details

Journal
Journal of Neuropsychology
Published
2025-05-14
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/jnp.12431
Citations
9
Primary Topic
Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
13.24

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article

Understanding barriers and optimizing socio‐cognitive assessment in the diagnosis of neurocognitive disorders

Giulia Funghi, Claudia Meli, Agustín M. Ibáñez, Marina Boccardi et al.
9 citations
Journal of Neuropsychology
Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
13.24
article

Understanding barriers and optimizing socio‐cognitive assessment in the diagnosis of neurocognitive disorders

Giulia Funghi, Claudia Meli, Agustín M. Ibáñez, Marina Boccardi, Fabricio Ferreira de Oliveira, Tommaso Piccoli, Stefano Francesco Cappa, Cristina Festari, Stefano Luca Sensi, Esther van den Berg, Antonina Luca, Francesco Di Lorenzo, Marco Filardi, Mirella Russo, Chiara Cerami, Giancarlo Logroscino, Jan Van den Stock, Olivier Piguet, Ann‐Katrin Schild, Nicola Girtler, Simone Pomati, Jordi A. Matías‐Guiu, Leonardo Sacco, Magda Tsolaki, Marc Sollberger, Steven D. Shirk, Maxime Bertoux, Miguel Tábuas‐Pereira, Fiona Kumfor, Sarah E. MacPherson, Christian Chicherio, Thibaud Lebouvier, Alessandra Dodich, Thanos Chatzikostopoulos, María Florencia Clarens, Kathleen A. Welsh‐Bohmer, Andrea Panzavolta
article en
9 citations

Abstract

Harmonized neuropsychological assessment for neurocognitive disorders (NCDs) is an urgent priority in clinics. Neuropsychology assessments in NCDs seldom include tests exploring social cognitive skills. In 2022, we launched the SIGNATURE initiative to optimize socio-cognitive assessment in NCDs. Here, we report findings from the first initiative phase, including consortium creation and evaluation of the state of the art in socio-cognitive assessment in memory clinics. We developed an ad hoc online survey to explore practices and measures, relevance, and obstacles preventing the use of socio-cognitive testing in clinics. The survey was distributed within the SIGNATURE network. National coordinators were identified to disseminate the survey to local collaborators and scientific societies active in the field of dementia and/or neuropsychology. Data were analysed in aggregate form and stratified by geographical area and variables of interest. Four hundred and thirteen (413) responses from 10 European and Latin American geographical regions were recorded. Responders were balanced between physicians and psychologists. Seventy-eight (78) % of respondents reported no/limited experience with socio-cognitive measures; more than 85% agreed on their relevance in clinics. Ekman-60 faces was the most well-known and/or used task, followed by the Faux-Pas and Reading-the-Mind-in-the-Eyes tests. Lack of clinical measures, assessment time, guidelines, and education/training were reported as main obstacles. Real-life barriers prevent the adoption of socio-cognitive testing in clinics. Bidirectional collaboration between clinicians and researchers is required to address clinical needs and constraints and facilitate consistent socio-cognitive assessment.

Journal of NeuropsychologyVol. 19(3)
University of Rome Tor Vergata (IT), The University of Sydney (AU), Inserm (FR), University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School (US), University of Basel (CH), University of Trento (IT), Trinity College Dublin (IE), Adolfo Ibáñez University (CL), Université de Lille (FR), Università degli Studi di Enna Kore (IT), Istituto Universitario di Studi Superiori di Pavia (IT), German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DE), Erasmus MC (NL), Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra (PT), University Hospital of Basel (CH), Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Lille (FR), University of Chieti-Pescara (IT), University of San Andrés (AR), Luigi Sacco Hospital (IT), Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences (CH), Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri (IT), VA New England Healthcare System (US), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (ES), Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia (AR), University Hospital of Geneva (CH), Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (US), Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli (IT), Felix Platter-Hospital (CH), Duke Medical Center (US), Ospedale Policlinico San Martino (IT), Centrum für Integrierte Onkologie (DE), Fondazione Santa Lucia (IT), Duke University Hospital (US), Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IT), University Hospital Cologne (DE), VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research (BE), Greek Association of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders (GR), University of Bari Aldo Moro (IT), University of Genoa (IT), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (BR), University of Palermo (IT), University of Edinburgh (GB), KU Leuven (BE)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Alzheimer's Association, National Philanthropic Trust, Eli Lilly and Company, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Biogen, EU Joint Programme – Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, Ministero della Salute, Eisai, National Institutes of Health, Genentech, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, National Institute on Aging, European Social Fund
Quality Education
Openalex Percentile: Top 1%
Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
13.24
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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