title: Negative symptoms mediate the influence of theory of mind on functional status in schizophrenia.
abstract: We aimed to assess the relationship between social cognition, neurocognition, negative symptoms and functional status in a homogeneous schizophrenia patient group remitted from positive symptoms. Sixty patients underwent assessments of social and neurocognition dimensions recommended by expert panels. A blind rater assessed their functional status. Second order theory of mind (ToM) and negative symptoms had significant correlations with functional status. A bootstrapping analysis used to test for specific mediation models revealed that the effect of second order ToM on functioning was mediated by negative symptoms. Future studies should examine if targeted remediation of ToM improves negative symptoms and thus functioning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, 560029, India, Urvakhsh@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Urvakhsh Meherwan
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: Jagadisha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thirthalli
authors.forename: Channaveerachari Naveen
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: J Keshav
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Bangalore N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Gangadhar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012919:Social Behavior; D056345:Theory of Mind