Impact of intelligence on social cognition in mentally disordered offenders: preliminary evidence in schizophrenia and personality disorders

Article Article scientifique Article Impact of intelligence on social cognition in mentally disordered offenders: preliminary evidence in schizophrenia and personality disorders eng 2026-03-12 author Ioannidis Kyriakos Division of Institutional Measures, Medical Direction, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. 948268 author Magnenat Lena Division of Institutional Measures, Medical Direction, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. author Herrmann François Department of Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Thônex, Switzerland. 70980 author Boulaguiem Younes Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. 854267 Département de santé et médecine communautaire (MECOM) author Espinosa Laila Division of Institutional Measures, Medical Direction, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. 956124 author Giannakopoulos Panteleimon Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Health Office, Department of Health and Transport, State of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. 44657 Département de psychiatrie (PSYAT) author Weber Kerstin Maud Division of Institutional Measures, Medical Direction, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. 106512 Département de psychiatrie (PSYAT) 10 1731232 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1731232 41909577 1664-1078 PMC13017296 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1731232/full Introduction: Social cognition (SC) allows individuals to perceive, interpret, and react to intentions and behaviors of others. Forensic psychiatry patients show impaired SC, leading to emergence of violent behaviors. This impairment may differ according to patients' intelligence quotient and psychiatric diagnosis (schizophrenia spectrum vs. personality disorders). Aims: The study investigated emotional SC and cognitive SC in male forensic inpatients, exploring demographic, criminological and clinical determinants. Methods : We retrospectively retrieved and analyzed data in a preliminary sample of 75 offenders following court-ordered psychiatric treatment in Switzerland. Emotional SC was assessed using a facial emotions' recognition task and cognitive SC was assessed with theory of mind comics picture stories. Multiple logistic regression models were applied to identify protective and risk factors of cognitive SC and emotional SC. Results: 39.2% of the offenders presented cognitive SC and 25.3% emotional SC impairment. Higher intelligence quotient was the unique 10-fold protective factor for cognitive SC, independently of psychiatric diagnoses and criminal history. In contrast, for emotional SC, average intelligence and PD disorder acted as protective factors compared to schizophrenia and intellectual deficiency, while foreign nationality acted as risk factor. Notably, neither recidivism nor the violent or multiple nature of crimes were related to SC. Discussion: Clinicians should consider patients' level of intelligence and include differential emotional and cognitive SC assessments, when referring mentally disordered offenders for SC training to improve their prosocial skills. Emotional intelligence Forensic psychiatry Offenders Social cognition Theory of mind Dewey 320 Dewey 310 Dewey 618.97 65 Département de réadaptation et gériatrie 22B 117 Research Center for Statistics S5 24 Global Studies Institute 0DJ false Frontiers in psychology 17 55c0b8fa-203a-4b07-a60e-cc6a98015837 Article (Published version) Public Article_scientifique_from_unpaywall.pdf 369601 application/pdf CC BY-4.0 6bcdaedc0c8147fbaea070941d82120dd2343600f55cef6f4a0456c5bdc5507a openAccess Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine clinique / Département de réadaptation et gériatrie Faculté d'économie et de management / Research Center for Statistics Centres et instituts / Global Studies Institute

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Impact of intelligence on social cognition in mentally disordered offenders: preliminary evidence in schizophrenia and personality disorders	Frontiers in psychology			2026	10	89

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Ioannidis, Kyriakos