A study of theory of mind deficit in first-episode schizophrenic patients / 中国神经精神疾病杂志

ABSTRACT

Background The disability of theory of mind (ToM) has been confirmed in chronic or acute medicated schizophrenic patients.The role of ToM ability in first-episode, drug-naive schizophrenic patients was investigated in this study.Methods ToM was assessed with the Eyes task and Faux pas task in first-episode, drug-naive schizophrenic patients( n =52)compared with healthy controls ( n =64). Verbal Fluency Test (VFT) and Digit Span Test (DST) were also examined in two groups. Psychiatric symptoms were evaluated by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).Results The tests that involved the ToM ability (I. E. Mind reading and Faux pas questions) were impaired in the schizophrenic group. The schizophrenia performed worse than the normal controls on the VFT. The schizophrenic negative subgroup performed worse than the positive subgroup in Mind reading and VFT. There was a significantly positive correlation between the performances of the tests that involved the ToM ability and the scores of VFT in schizophrenic patients. There was a significantly negative correlation between the performances of the tests that involved the ToM ability and negative symptom scores in the patients.Conclusions The patients with schizophrenia exhibit ToM deficit that is probably associated with the frontal lobe dysfunction.The performance of ToM dysfunction might be different between negative subjects and positive ones.