title: Picture sequencing task performance indicates theory of mind deficit in bipolar disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This paper reports the performance of DSM-IV-TR diagnosed bipolar disorder (BD) patients on a well-recognised measure of theory of mind (ToM) that commonly elicits group-related differences in schizophrenia research.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-nine BD patients and 49 age and gender matched controls completed Langdon and Coltheart (1999)Picture Sequencing Task.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Relative to controls, patients with BD performed significantly worse on the ToM relevant false-belief stories of the picture sequencing task, but not on the control stories requiring social script knowledge, executive control or an understanding of causal connexions. There were no differences in the ToM performance of symptomatic versus euthymic patients or those categorised as having BD I or BD II.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As sub group sizes were small, data suggesting a trait-like deficit in ToM should be interpreted with caution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results support previous evidence of ToM impairment in BD and indicate a potential endophenotypic overlap in the phenomenology of both schizophrenia and BD.
authors.affiliation: Brain and Psychological Sciences Research Centre, Faculty of Life and Social Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia; Monash Alfred Psychiatry research centre (MAPrc), The Alfred Hospital and Monash University Central Clinical School, 607 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address: tvanrheenen@swin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Tamsyn E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Van Rheenen
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Rossell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D056345:Theory of Mind; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Bipolar disorder; Endophenotypes; Picture sequencing; Social cognition; Theory of mind