Theory of mind and central coherence in eating disorders: two sides of the same coin?
The aim of this study was to evaluate central coherence and theory of mind (ToM) and explore the relationships between these domains in patients with eating disorders (ED). ToM and central coherence were assessed in 72 women [24 with anorexia nervosa (AN), 24 with bulimia nervosa (BN) and 24 healthy controls (HC)]. The Reading the Mind in the Eyes (RME) and the Faux Pas Test (FPT) to measure ToM, and the copy strategy of the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test to assess central coherence were used. It was observed that patients with ED had a decrease in central coherence skills compared with the control group; that patients with anorexia had a poor performance on RME ToM task compared with BN patients and HCs, and also that these measures were related in both clinical groups. The statistically significant correlation between them suggests that the central coherence and ToM measures might involve common cognitive processes. These results provide a better understanding of the nature of the socio-cognitive deficits observed in patients with eating disorders.
CONICET - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Department of Cognitive Neurology, Neuropsychology and Neuropsychiatry, Instituto de Investigaciones Neurológicas Raúl Carrea - FLENI, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Section of Eating Disorders, Hospital General Cosme Argerich, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: fetapajoz@hotmail.com.
Fernanda
F
Tapajóz P de Sampaio
Sebastian
S
Soneira
Alfredo
A
Aulicino
Graciela
G
Martese
Monica
M
Iturry
Ricardo Francisco
RF
Allegri
D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001118:Argentina; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011932:Reading; D060685:Sense of Coherence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D056345:Theory of Mind / Q000502:physiology*
Anorexia; Bulimia; Central coherence; Neuropsychology; Theory of mind