Purpose of review: Social cognition represents a fundamental skill for effective social behavior. It is nowadays widely accepted that individuals suffering from serious mental illness are impaired in this domain.
Recent findings: Studies published since June 2012 have been reviewed, with a particular focus on theory of mind, social perception, social knowledge, attributional bias, and emotion processing in patients suffering from schizophrenia and mood disorders.
Summary: The reviewed literature supports previous studies on deficits in social cognition in schizophrenia, major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, and underscores their relevance in the psychosocial context.