The Effect of Alexithymia, Metacognitive Beliefs and Self-Efficacy on Disability in Patients With Schizophrenia: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Hatice Polat, Kerim Uğur, Tunahan Sun
PMID 41891428WHAT IT FOUND
Young adults with schizophrenia who had more difficulty identifying emotions and unhelpful beliefs about thinking also reported more disability and lower confidence.
Beliefs about thinking were linked to disability even when difficulty with emotions was considered; difficulty with emotions was linked to lower confidence.
Key findings
01The schizophrenia and control groups differed significantly on alexithymia, dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs, general self-efficacy and most disability domains.
02In the schizophrenia group, metacognitive beliefs had a significant total and direct association with disability, while the indirect association through alexithymia was not significant.
03In the schizophrenia group, metacognitive beliefs had a significant total association with lower self-efficacy; after alexithymia was included, the direct association was not significant, while the indirect association through alexithymia was significant.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The cross-sectional design cannot show that alexithymia or metacognitive beliefs caused disability or low self-efficacy. The sample was a convenience sample from one centre, so it may not represent other groups. The groups differed in education, employment, residence, living arrangements, family history and income, which may confound the associations. Symptom severity, hospitalisation history, treatment adherence and social support were not measured. Five of 72 initially interviewed patients did not complete the forms. Self-efficacy was measured as general coping, not confidence specific to work, symptom management or daily activities.
Declared interests
The authors reported no funding and no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these associations as proof that treating alexithymia or metacognitive beliefs will reduce disability or raise self-efficacy. The study measured people at one time point, used a convenience sample, and did not test an intervention.