Deficiency of theory of mind in patients with remitted mood disorder.
BACKGROUND
Recent researches on theory of mind (ToM) in patients with mood disorders have revealed deficits of ToM ability during episodes. In this study, we aimed to test ToM ability among patients with unipolar or bipolar depression currently in remission.


METHODS
ToM ability and IQ obtained by Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R) were evaluated in 50 patients with remitted depression, who met the criteria of mood disorders of DSM-IV, and 50 matched healthy controls.


RESULTS
The patients with mood disorders showed statistically significant impairment in a second-order false question (Fisher's Exact Test p < 0.0001). No significant difference was shown in the other three areas of ToM between the patients and the controls. In addition, no correlation of the four areas of ToM with IQ obtained by WAIS-R was found.


CONCLUSIONS
The relation of ToM deficit to other specific cognitive impairment was not examined.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that depressive patients in symptomatic remission have a lower ability of second-order false belief. The ToM impairment suggests a decline of skillful social relationships. Evaluation of ToM ability in depressive patients in remission may be useful to provide treatment for better social adjustment.
Inoue
Yumiko
Y
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine and Engineering, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan.
Tonooka
Yuji
Y
Yamada
Kazuo
K
Kanba
Shigenobu
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012938:Social Perception; D014888:Wechsler Scales