title: Theory of Mind intervention for outpatients with schizophrenia.
abstract: Social disability is one of the critical areas known to be a predictor of daily functioning in schizophrenia. Recent studies showed that impairments in Theory of Mind (ToM) contribute to real-world social functioning and are more strongly associated with community outcomes than other neuropsychological domains of cognition. Several experiments revealed an improving potential of social cognition targeted training, particularly through introduction of verbalisation and explicit manipulation of information about others' mental states. Based on these data, we evaluated longitudinally, with a controlled trial, the feasibility and efficacy of ToM training and the possible influences of daily functioning and IQ on the enhancement of ToM abilities. Thirty outpatients with schizophrenia were recruited and randomly allocated to two groups: ToM Intervention (ToMI), based on verbalisation of selected comic strips representing ToM scenarios, or active control group (ACG). Results showed a significant improvement of ToM abilities among subjects allocated to ToMI compared to ACG, confirming the hypothesis of the enhancing potential of training methods targeting ToM functions. Moreover, we observed no influences of neuropsychological and functional variables on ToM improvement. Development of future studies should take into account possible effects of ToM training on functional outcome, according to the strong associations between ToM abilities and real-world social functioning.
authors: San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Universitary Scientific Institute Hospital, Milan, Italy. bechi.margherita@hsr.it
authors: Margherita
authors: M
authors: Bechi
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Spangaro
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Bosia
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Zanoletti
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Fresi
authors: Mariachiara
authors: M
authors: Buonocore
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Cocchi
authors: Carmelo
authors: C
authors: Guglielmino
authors: Enrico
authors: E
authors: Smeraldi
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Cavallaro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010045:Outpatients / Q000523:psychology; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012919:Social Behavior; D012938:Social Perception; D056345:Theory of Mind; D016896:Treatment Outcome