Anja Vaskinn1, Stein Andersson2, Tiril Østefjells3, Ole A Andreassen4, Kjetil Sundet5. 1. NORMENT KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Oslo University Hospital, P.O. Box 4959, Nydalen 0424, Oslo, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1171, Blindern 0318, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: anja.vaskinn@medisin.uio.no. 2. Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1094, Blindern 0317, Oslo, Norway. 3. NORMENT KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Oslo University Hospital, P.O. Box 4959, Nydalen 0424, Oslo, Norway; Department for Specialized Inpatient Treatment, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Akershus University Hospital, 1478 Lørenskog, Norway. 4. NORMENT KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Oslo University Hospital, P.O. Box 4959, Nydalen 0424, Oslo, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1171, Blindern 0318, Oslo, Norway. 5. NORMENT KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Oslo University Hospital, P.O. Box 4959, Nydalen 0424, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1094, Blindern 0317, Oslo, Norway.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Theory of mind (ToM) can be divided into cognitive and affective ToM, and a distinction can be made between overmentalizing and undermentalizing errors. Research has shown that ToM in schizophrenia is associated with non-social and social cognition, and with clinical symptoms. In this study, we investigate cognitive and clinical predictors of different ToM processes. METHODS: Ninety-one individuals with schizophrenia participated. ToM was measured with the Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition (MASC) yielding six scores (total ToM, cognitive ToM, affective ToM, overmentalizing errors, undermentalizing errors and no mentalizing errors). Neurocognition was indexed by a composite score based on the non-social cognitive tests in the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). Emotion perception was measured with Emotion in Biological Motion (EmoBio), a point-light walker task. Clinical symptoms were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Seventy-one healthy control (HC) participants completed the MASC. RESULTS: Individuals with schizophrenia showed large impairments compared to HC for all MASC scores, except overmentalizing errors. Hierarchical regression analyses with the six different MASC scores as dependent variables revealed that MCCB was a significant predictor of all MASC scores, explaining 8-18% of the variance. EmoBio increased the explained variance significantly, to 17-28%, except for overmentalizing errors. PANSS excited symptoms increased explained variance for total ToM, affective ToM and no mentalizing errors. DISCUSSION: Both social and non-social cognition were significant predictors of ToM. Overmentalizing was only predicted by non-social cognition. Excited symptoms contributed to overall and affective ToM, and to no mentalizing errors.
BACKGROUND: Theory of mind (ToM) can be divided into cognitive and affective ToM, and a distinction can be made between overmentalizing and undermentalizing errors. Research has shown that ToM in schizophrenia is associated with non-social and social cognition, and with clinical symptoms. In this study, we investigate cognitive and clinical predictors of different ToM processes. METHODS: Ninety-one individuals with schizophrenia participated. ToM was measured with the Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition (MASC) yielding six scores (total ToM, cognitive ToM, affective ToM, overmentalizing errors, undermentalizing errors and no mentalizing errors). Neurocognition was indexed by a composite score based on the non-social cognitive tests in the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). Emotion perception was measured with Emotion in Biological Motion (EmoBio), a point-light walker task. Clinical symptoms were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Seventy-one healthy control (HC) participants completed the MASC. RESULTS: Individuals with schizophrenia showed large impairments compared to HC for all MASC scores, except overmentalizing errors. Hierarchical regression analyses with the six different MASC scores as dependent variables revealed that MCCB was a significant predictor of all MASC scores, explaining 8-18% of the variance. EmoBio increased the explained variance significantly, to 17-28%, except for overmentalizing errors. PANSS excited symptoms increased explained variance for total ToM, affective ToM and no mentalizing errors. DISCUSSION: Both social and non-social cognition were significant predictors of ToM. Overmentalizing was only predicted by non-social cognition. Excited symptoms contributed to overall and affective ToM, and to no mentalizing errors.
Authors: Amanda McCleery; Jonathan K Wynn; Junghee Lee; Eric A Reavis; Joseph Ventura; Kenneth L Subotnik; Michael F Green; Keith H Nuechterlein Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2020-08-25 Impact factor: 4.157