Psychometric Properties of Turkish Instruments Assessing Social Cognition in Psychiatry and Neurology: A Systematic Review

Objective: Social cognitive processes are shaped by cultural norms, necessitating cultural adaptation and psychometric validation. This review systematically examines Turkish tools used to assess social cognition in neurology and psychiatry, summarizing their procedures and psychometric properties. Method: Following PRISMA 2020, we searched MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, and YOKSIS for studies up to May 2024. Using SR-Accelerator’s Polyglot, we developed database-specific keywords and applied a PICOS-based search strategy. From 3,115 identified records, 157 studies met inclusion criteria. Among the Turkish tools used to assess social cognition in psychiatric disorders or neurological diseases, those with established validity and reliability, we extracted (i) task characteristics and (ii) psychometric properties. Results: A total of 31 tests and 15 scales were used across 157 studies, covering 37 diagnoses, 9 studies with family members, and 2 with high-risk groups. Psychometric properties were reported for 13 tests (41.9%) and 8 scales (53.3%). Four tools were developed in Turkish: The Humor Comprehension and Appreciation Test, the Test of Perception of Affect via Nonverbal Cues, the Dokuz Eylül Theory of Mind Index, and the Child-Adolescent KA-SI Empathic Tendency Scale. The most frequently used test was the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (52.2%), while the Dokuz Eylül Theory of Mind Index (45.8%) was the most used scale. The Faux Pas Test and the Observable Social Cognition Scale had stronger psychometric support. Internal consistency, test-retest, and inter-rater reliability were assessed in 75%, 55%, and 30% of tools, respectively, while various validity measures ranged from 45% (known-group validity) to 5% (ecological validity). No test assessed social perception. The only tool that uses movie-based material in Turkish was the Test of Perception of Affect Via Nonverbal Cues. Conclusion: This systematic review provides a comprehensive approach to Turkish social cognition tools in neuropsychiatry. Nearly half lack robust psychometric validation, and there is a critical gap in Turkish tools measuring social perception.