Association between subjective cognitive decline and Young's early maladaptive schemas

Abstract

Background: Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) refers to self-experienced cognitive difficulties while performances remaining within normal limits on standardized neuropsychological tests. Although it has been proposed to be a risk for a future cognitive decline, the known associations of SCD primarily include psychological factors such as depression and neuroticism. Young proposed that early maladaptive schemas (EMS), i.e., “broad pervasive themes regarding oneself and one's relationship with others (…) elaborated throughout one's lifetimeâ€, play a central role in emotional and personality disorders. Based on Young’s framework, we sought to specifically evaluate the association between SCD and EMS. Methods: 144 participants (age:68.37±6.8, 76% female, MMSE:28.69±1.0) were enrolled in a psychoeducational program on SCD. They had been recruited either from a memory clinic or from a health insurance advertisement. Before beginning the intervention, they were administered a neuropsychological assessment followed by computerized self-report questionnaires on SCD (McNair), depression and anxiety (HADS), and EMS (YSQ-SF). Findings: SCD was not correlated to neuropsychological performance, but to depression (r=0.328, p< .01), anxiety (r=0.357, p< .01), and several EMS including: Dependence/incompetence (r=0.440, p < .01), Failure (r=0.381; p<.01) and, Vulnerability to harm (r=0.350, p<.01). Discussion: Our study reveals a relationship between SCD and self-related schemas, especially those belonging to the “Impaired autonomy and performance†domain involving expectations about oneself and the world that interfere with the ability to function independently. Thus, SCD could reflect a broader belief of “not being capable ofâ€. Our findings suggest that it may be worthwhile to evaluate EMS in subjects with SCD.