SIGNATURE Initiative - Publications

International consensus for the assessment of social cognition in neurocognitive disorders: framework definition and clinical recommendations of the SIGNATURE initiative.

Dodich, A., Panzavolta, A., Funghi, G., Meli, C., Festari, C., Chatzikostopoulos, T., ... & SIGNATURE Consortium (2025).

PREPRINT (Version 1) available at Research Square [https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6370459/v1]

Socio-cognitive assessment in neurocognitive disorders (NCDs) is uncommon in clinical settings, with no standardized approach for memory clinics. The SIGNATURE initiative seeks to improve and standardize socio-cognitive testing by providing expert recommendations based on literature and current clinical practices. Using a Delphi consensus, literature review, and international survey, 22 experts developed guidelines addressing use, diagnostic relevance, research priorities, and challenges in assessing socio-cognition in major and mild NCDs. The panel advocates for routine social cognition testing to detect socio-cognitive and socio-behavioral changes, identifying factors that support or hinder its use. This initiative represents the first effort to promote socio-cognitive assessment, which is DSM-5 recommended but rarely implemented despite its clinical importance. The guidelines serve as a foundation for further refinement, encouraging future research to address limitations and develop ecological, cross-culturally validated measures for clinical use.

Full text here

Understanding barriers and optimizing socio‐cognitive assessment in the diagnosis of neurocognitive disorders.

Cerami, C., Boccardi, M., Meli, C., Panzavolta, A., Funghi, G., Festari, C., ... & SIGNATURE initiative (2025).

The article presents the international SIGNATURE initiative, created to improve the clinical use of social cognition assessment in neurocognitive disorders (NCDs). Although DSM-5 guidelines recommend including social cognition in diagnosis, many clinicians neglect it due to lack of tools, time, training, and guidelines. A study involving 413 professionals from 10 regions showed that 78% had little or no experience with such measures, despite acknowledging their clinical relevance.

The most well-known tests are the Ekman 60-Faces, the Faux-Pas Test, and the Reading-the-Mind-in-the-Eyes test. Major barriers include the lack of standardized tools and proper training. The initiative calls for collaboration between clinicians and researchers to overcome these issues. It also promotes the development of culturally sensitive and easy-to-administer tests.

The goal is to harmonize neuropsychological practice and improve early detection and treatment of NCDs. The project continues with further research and implementation phases.

Journal of Neuropsychology | Wiley Online Library