Impairments in theory of mind shortly after traumatic brain injury and at 1-year follow-up.
Most studies into acquired theory of mind (ToM) deficits assessed patients once, long after the onset of brain injury. As a result, the time course of acquired ToM impairments is largely unknown. The present study examined whether ToM impairments following traumatic brain injury (TBI) recover, remain stable, or worsen over time. Because of the alleged association between ToM and social communication, ToM impairments may deteriorate because of changes in patients' social environment following injury. ToM ability and executive functioning were assessed shortly after injury and at 1-year follow-up. Compared with the orthopedic control group, the TBI group was impaired on ToM and executive functioning tasks at both assessments. Furthermore, the ToM impairments in the TBI group remained stable over time.
Milders
Maarten
M
School of Psychology, University of Aberdeen.
Ietswaart
Magdalena
M
0000-0003-4576-9393
School of Psychology, University of Aberdeen.
Crawford
John R
JR
School of Psychology, University of Aberdeen.
Currie
David
D
Department of Neurosurgery, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology*; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices