Article

Theory of Mind as a potential trait marker of schizophrenia: a family study.

Division of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK.
Cognitive Neuropsychiatry 01/2012; 17(1):64-89. DOI:10.1080/13546805.2011.568289 pp.64-89
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT Although there is some evidence that Theory of Mind (ToM) deficits may be trait markers of schizophrenia it is not clear yet if ToM deficits are primary deficits, that is, to be independent of deficits in general intellectual abilities and executive function. The aim was to examine if ToM deficits may be trait markers of the illness and the effect of cognitive inhibition, general intellectual abilities and depression on ToM abilities of patients with schizophrenia and their unaffected parents.
We assessed ToM abilities (first-order and second-order ToM stories, The Revised Eyes Test), cognitive inhibition (Stroop Task), general intellectual ability (Standard Progressive Matrices Test Plus) in patients with schizophrenia (N=21) and their unaffected fathers (N=21) and mothers (N=21) in comparison with healthy control families (healthy control males, N=21, healthy control fathers, N=21, healthy control mothers, N=21)
Patients showed deficits in first-order ToM tasks but some of these deficits were mediated by general intellectual abilities. Impairments in cognitive inhibition mediated only patients' performance in The Revised Eyes Test. Patients showed deficits in second-order ToM stories independently of deficits in general intellectual abilities and cognitive inhibition. Unaffected parents did not show deficits in first-order ToM tasks, whereas they showed deficits in second-order ToM stories. However, the deficits that unaffected parents showed in second-order ToM stories were mediated by their deficits in general intellectual abilities, and there was an effect of remitted depression on the unaffected mothers' performance.
The results suggest that intact neurocognitive and general intellectual abilities are necessary in order patients and their unaffected parents to pass successfully ToM tasks. Patients and their unaffected parents show ToM deficits but these deficits are not similar. Patients show ToM deficits but these deficits seem to be a component of the pathophysiology of the illness (e.g., deficits in executive function, general intellectual abilities).

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    Annals of General Psychiatry 06/2012; 11(1):16. · 1.56 Impact Factor
Data provided are for informational purposes only. Although carefully collected, accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The impact factor represents a rough estimation of the journal's impact factor and does not reflect the actual current impact factor. Publisher conditions are provided by RoMEO. Differing provisions from the publisher's actual policy or licence agreement may be applicable.

Keywords

executive function
 
first-order ToM tasks
 
general intellectual abilities
 
general intellectual ability
 
healthy control families
 
healthy control fathers
 
healthy control males
 
healthy control mothers
 
intact neurocognitive
 
order patients
 
patients' performance
 
remitted depression
 
Revised Eyes Test
 
second-order ToM stories
 
Standard Progressive Matrices Test
 
ToM deficits
 
ToM tasks
 
unaffected fathers
 
unaffected mothers' performance
 
unaffected parents