Transdiagnostic relevance of subjective cognitive complaints: a validation and population-based study using two Canadian scales (SSTICS and MoCA) in the UAE

The SSTIC-E demonstrates utility beyond diagnostic silos, providing a valuable and culturally relevant instrument for transdiagnostic psychiatric assessment in Arabic-speaking populations. Schizophrenia exhibited slightly higher SCC compared to patients with affective disorders, with a lack of clear association between subjective and objective cognition. SCC is common across psychiatric diagnoses in the United Arab Emirates, supporting a dimensional model of cognitive dysfunction. SSTIC-E reveals insights into the lived experiences of patients not captured by objective tests. Cultural and gender influences underscore the necessity of context-specific approaches.