title: Theory of mind in adolescents with early-onset schizophrenia: correlations with clinical assessment and executive functions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined Theory of Mind (ToM) abilities in adolescents with early-onset schizophrenia (EOS) and their correlation with clinical findings and Executive Functions (EF).
  
  
  METHODS
  The ToM abilities of 12 adolescents with EOS were compared with those of healthy participants matched in age and educational level. The Moving Shapes Paradigm was used to explore ToM abilities in three modalities: random movement, goal-directed movement and ToM - scored on the dimensions of intentionality, appropriateness and length of each answer. EF was tested using Davidson's Battery and the clinical psychopathology with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adolescents with EOS were significantly more impaired than controls in the three dimensions evaluated for the goal-directed and ToM modalities. Regarding the random movement modality, the only difference was in appropriateness (p<0.01). No correlation with age or level of education was evident for ToM skills. Total PANSS score was negatively correlated with appropriateness score for the goal-directed (p=0.02) and ToM modalities (p=0.01). No correlation existed between performance in the ToM Animated Tasks and positive, negative or disorganisation PANSS subscores. No correlations were found among the three scores in the Moving Shapes Paradigm and any measures of the accuracy of the three tasks assessing EF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results confirm previous findings of ToM deficits in adult individuals with schizophrenia and attest the severity of these deficits in patients with EOS.
authors.affiliation: 1Child Psychiatry Department,Mongi Slim Hospital,Marsa,Tunisia.
authors.forename: Soumaya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bourgou
authors.affiliation: 2Research Unit UR 02/04,Razi Hospital,Mannouba,Tunisia.
authors.forename: Soumeyya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Halayem
authors.affiliation: 5University Psychiatry Department,Saint Anne Hospital,Paris,France.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Amado
authors.affiliation: 2Research Unit UR 02/04,Razi Hospital,Mannouba,Tunisia.
authors.forename: Racha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Triki
authors.affiliation: 5University Psychiatry Department,Saint Anne Hospital,Paris,France.
authors.forename: Marie Chantal
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bourdel
authors.affiliation: 9Le Vinatier Hospital Center,Lyon,France.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Franck
authors.affiliation: 5University Psychiatry Department,Saint Anne Hospital,Paris,France.
authors.forename: Marie Odile
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Krebs
authors.affiliation: 2Research Unit UR 02/04,Razi Hospital,Mannouba,Tunisia.
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tabbane
authors.affiliation: 2Research Unit UR 02/04,Razi Hospital,Mannouba,Tunisia.
authors.forename: Asma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bouden
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002746:Chlorpromazine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D056345:Theory of Mind
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D002746:Chlorpromazine
keywords: cognition; perception; psychosis; schizophrenia