title: Theory of mind impairment after severe traumatic brain injury and its relationship with caregivers' quality of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Theory of mind (ToM) deficits are common consequences of severe Traumatic Brain Injury (sTBI), but little is known about their impact on patients' and their caregivers' quality of life. This study aimed (i) to examine the presence of ToM difficulties in individuals with sTBI and adequate levels of self-awareness (SA); (ii) to investigate their relationship with perceived Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in patients and their caregivers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty individuals with sTBI and adequate levels of SA, and 20 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. ToM was examined by the Faux-pas Recognition paradigm. The QOLIBRI questionnaire was administered to patients and their caregivers to assess their HRQoL. Cognitive functioning and psychopathology were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Individuals with sTBI were less accurate than HCs on the Faux-pas Recognition paradigm. Patients' satisfaction of HRQoL was related to their performance on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. Caregivers' satisfaction was significantly predicted by patients' score on the Faux-pas paradigm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ToM is impaired in individuals with sTBI and adequate levels of SA. Moreover, their ToM performance predicted HRQoL in the caregivers. From a clinical perspective, these results provide understanding of the potential impact of ToM impairment in subjects with sTBI and their social system.
authors.affiliation: Fondazione Santa Lucia - Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bivona
authors.affiliation: Fondazione Santa Lucia - Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Formisano
authors.affiliation: Fondazione Santa Lucia - Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Laurentiis
authors.affiliation: Fondazione Santa Lucia - Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Natascia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Accetta
authors.affiliation: Fondazione Santa Lucia - Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Rita
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Di Cosimo
authors.affiliation: Fondazione Santa Lucia - Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Massicci
authors.affiliation: Fondazione Santa Lucia - Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ciurli
authors.affiliation: Fondazione Santa Lucia - Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Azicnuda
authors.affiliation: Fondazione Santa Lucia - Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Silvestro
authors.affiliation: Fondazione Santa Lucia - Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sabatini
authors.affiliation: Fondazione Santa Lucia - Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Falletta Caravasso
authors.affiliation: Fondazione Santa Lucia - Rome, Italy.|Università di Roma Tor Vergata - Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni Augusto
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Carlesimo
authors.affiliation: Fondazione Santa Lucia - Rome, Italy.|Università di Roma Tor Vergata - Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caltagirone
authors.affiliation: Fondazione Santa Lucia - Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D056345:Theory of Mind / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Traumatic brain injury; neuropsychotherapeutic approach; psychological support; quality of life; self-awareness; theory of mind