Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39558001›Full record

SynthesisMolecular psychiatry2025

Cognitive functioning in people with psychotic experiences: a systematic review and meta-analysis study.

Ryan Sai Ting Chu, Ivan Wai Lok Chu, Esther Wing-Chi Yip, Joe Kwun Nam Chan, Corine Sau Man Wong, Christy Lai-Ming Hui, Eric Yu Hai Chen, Sherry Kit Wa Chan, Edwin Ho Ming Lee, Simon Sai Yu Lui and 1 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Molecular psychiatry, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Ryan Sai Ting ChuDepartment of Psychiatry, LKS Faculty of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Ivan Wai Lok ChuDepartment of Psychiatry, LKS Faculty of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Esther Wing-Chi YipDepartment of Psychiatry, LKS Faculty of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Joe Kwun Nam ChanDepartment of Psychiatry, LKS Faculty of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Corine Sau Man WongLKS Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.ORCID 0000-0003-3363-1004
Christy Lai-Ming HuiDepartment of Psychiatry, LKS Faculty of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Eric Yu Hai ChenDepartment of Psychiatry, LKS Faculty of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Sherry Kit Wa ChanDepartment of Psychiatry, LKS Faculty of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.ORCID 0000-0003-2712-5826
Edwin Ho Ming LeeDepartment of Psychiatry, LKS Faculty of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Simon Sai Yu LuiDepartment of Psychiatry, LKS Faculty of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.ORCID 0000-0001-9360-6244
Wing Chung ChangDepartment of Psychiatry, LKS Faculty of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. changwc@hku.hk.ORCID 0000-0002-3581-8895

Funding

Food and Health Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region | Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) 07181776
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Earlier research suggested that psychotic experiences (PEs), the extended-psychosis phenotype, are associated with cognitive impairment. Recent studies, however, revealed more mixed findings, and patterns and magnitude of cognitive deficits in PEs remain uncertain. We aimed to systematically review and quantitatively synthesize estimates of cognitive functioning covering a wide array of domains in individuals with versus without PEs. We systematically searched four databases from inception to 6 July 2023. We generated pooled effect size (Hedges'g) using random-effects models. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression examining the moderating effect of sex, age at PE assessment, study design, cognitive task, and PE assessment instrument on cognitive functioning were performed when applicable. The study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023442528). Twenty-seven and six studies were included for meta-analysis of cognitive functioning comparing individuals with versus without PEs (n = 82,561; 10,251 individuals with PEs) and individuals with high-level versus low-level PEs (n = 8062; 813 individuals with high-level PEs), respectively. Individuals with PEs exhibited worse cognitive performance in general cognition (Hedges'g = -0.10 [95%CI = -0.18 to -0.02]), verbal fluency (Hedges'g = -0.05 [95%CI = -0.10 to -0.00]), visual memory (Hedges'g = -0.21 [95%CI = -0.38 to -0.03]), and working memory (Hedges'g = -0.16 [95%CI = -0.28 to -0.04]). Meta-regression revealed that general cognition associated with PEs was related to younger age (z = 3.37, p = 0.001), male sex (z = -2.59, p = 0.010), and cognitive assessment before PE assessment (z = -2.15, p = 0.031), whereas working memory in individuals with PEs was associated with concurrent cognitive and PE assessment (z = 6.19, p < 0.001). We failed to find moderating effect of the choice of PE assessment instrument or cognitive task on cognitive functioning in PEs. Additional analysis showed no significant difference in the performance of any cognitive domains between individuals with high-level versus low-level PEs. Limitations included studies primarily derived from Western countries, no social-cognitive domains, and varied PE measurement. In sum, PEs are associated with milder and more circumscribed cognitive impairment relative to psychotic disorders. Future research is required to clarify differential cognitive trajectories between individuals with transient PEs and persistent/recurrent-PEs.

Indexed as

CognitionCognitive DysfunctionPsychotic DisordersAdultFemaleHumansMaleNeuropsychological Tests

Identifiers

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.