title: [Humour and the theory of mind in schizophrenia: a review of the literature].
abstract: Humour is a universal phenomenon, a daily fact holding positive aspects valued in society. The sense of humour is subjective, inherent in each and everyone and difficult to assess. We could qualify it as an indefinable sense set by an absence of norms. This intangible notion occupies a primordial social role of communication, confidence, shared by all with both therapeutic and physical benefit. Scientists started researching this theme in schizophrenic patients from 1950. Studies show a net deficit of humour capabilities between healthy subjects and patients. The hypothesis of a deficit of the theory of mind in the evaluation of humour in schizophrenics is currently the object of several experiments. Nowadays, cognitive functions are also taken into account in humour perception studies. However the little or few studies relevant to this subject are a definite obstacle to the understanding of this complex phenomenon.
authors.affiliation: Unité de recherche clinique, EPS Ville Evrard, 202, avenue Jean-Jaurès, 93330 Neuilly-sur-Marne, France. eleonor.etienne@gmail.com
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Etienne
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Braha
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Januel
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D004644:Emotions; D006801:Humans; D007845:Laughter; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012919:Social Behavior; D056345:Theory of Mind; D014925:Wit and Humor as Topic