Schizophrenics experience a broad array of deficits in social cognition and metacognition making it difficult for them to understand the speech, facial expressions and hence emotion and intention of others, as well as having little insight into their own mental state. These deficits are associated with poor social skills, fewer social relationships, and are predictive of poorer performance in a work setting. Recent research has focused on the precise nature of these deficits, when and how they manifest themselves, what their effect is on the course of schizophrenia, and how each can be treated. It is now believed that these deficits may themselves be why schizophrenia is so difficult to resolve, and by focusing on the deficits, recovery may be quicker and long lasting.

Chapter 1 - Neurobiological Underpinnings of Social Cognition and Metacognition in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders - Elliot C. Brown, Cumhur Tas, Cristina Gonzalez, and Martin Brüne Chapter 2 - Cross-Cultural Aspects of Social Cognitive Abilities in Schizophrenia - Katja Koelkebeck and Christine WilhelmChapter 3 - Social Cognition During the Early Phase of Schizophrenia - Amanda McCleery, William P. Horan, and Michael F. GreenChapter 4 - Empathy - Birgit Derntl and Christina RegenbogenChapter 5 - Memory-Related Metacognition in Patients with Schizophrenia - Elisabeth Bacon and Marie IzauteChapter 6 - Metacognition in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: Methods of Assessment and Associations with Psychosocial Function, Neurocognition, Symptoms, and Cognitive Style - Paul H. Lysaker, Jaclyn Hillis, Bethany L. Leonhardt, Marina Kukla, and Kelly D. BuckChapter 7 - The Impact of Metacognition on the Development and Maintenance of Negative Symptoms - Hamish McLeod, Andrew Gumley, and Matthias SchwannauerChapter 8 - Metacognition as a Framework to Understanding the Occurrence of Aggression and Violence in Patients with Schizophrenia - Sune Bo, Ahmad Abu-Akel, and Mickey KongerslevChapter 9 - Social Cognition and Interaction Training: The Role of Metacognition - João M. Fernandes and David L. RobertsChapter 10 - An Overview of Social Cognitive Treatment Interventions - Dennis R. Combs, Emily Drake, and Michael R. BassoChapter 11 - Metacognitive Training and Therapy: An Individualized and Group Intervention for Psychosis - Todd S. Woodward, Ryan Balzan, Mahesh Menon, and Steffen MoritzChapter 12 - Metacognitively Focused Psychotherapy for People with Schizophrenia: Eight Core Elements that Define Practice - Paul H. Lysaker, Kelly D. Buck, Bethany L. Leonhardt, Benjamin Buck, Jay Hamm, Ilanit Hasson-Ohayon, Jennifer L. Vohs, and Giancarlo DimaggioChapter 13 - Adapted-Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy Applied to Paranoid Schizophrenia: Promoting Higher Levels of Reflection on One's and Others' Minds, Awareness of Interpersonal Schemas, Differentiation and Mastery of Social Problems - Giampaolo Salvatore, Raffaele Popolo, Paul H. Lysaker, Paolo Ottavi, Nadia Di Sturco, and Giancarlo DimaggioChapter 14 - Triumphs and Tribulations in the Psychotherapy of Schizophrenia: Reflections from a Pilot Study of Metacognitive Narrative Psychotherapy - Rebecca Bargenquast and Robert D. SchweitzerChapter 15 - A Mentalization-Based Treatment Approach to Disturbances of Social Understanding in Schizophrenia - Benjamin K. Brent and Peter FonagyChapter 16 - The Relationship Between Metacognitive Profile, Attachment Pattern, and Intersubjective Process in Psychotherapy of a Person Recovering from First Episode Schizophrenia - Susanne Harder and Sarah DanielChapter 17 - Metacognition-Oriented Social Skills Training - Paolo Ottavi, Manuela Pasinetti, Raffaele Popolo, Giampaolo Salvatore, Paul H. Lysaker, and Giancarlo DimaggioChapter 18 - Experimental Usage of Oxytocin to Combat Deficits in Social Cognition in Schizophrenia - Cumhur Tas, Elliot C. Brown, Cristina Gonzalez, and Martin BrüneChapter 19 - Social Cognition and Metacognition in Schizophrenia: Research to Date and Directions for the Future - Paul H. Lysaker, Giancarlo Dimaggio, and Martin Brüne