The association of autistic traits with Theory of Mind and its training efficacy in patients with schizophrenia

Publication date: Available online 31 October 2019Source: Schizophrenia Research: CognitionAuthor(s): Margherita Bechi, Giulia Agostoni, Mariachiara Buonocore, Davide Gritti, Mattia Mascia, Marco Spangaro, Laura Bianchi, Federica Cocchi, Carmelo Guglielmino, Marta Bosia, Roberto CavallaroAbstractLiterature has recently identified a discrete subgroup of patients affected by schizophrenia that also present autistic traits (ATs), showing a peculiar cognitive, clinical and functional profile. Theory of Mind (ToM) represents a core, impaired feature in both schizophrenia and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ToM in patients with schizophrenia and ATs has yet to be investigated. Thus, this study aims, on the one hand, to assess differences among patients with and without ATs on clinical, cognitive and ToM abilities as well as in daily functioning; on the other hand, to compare the efficacy on mentalizing abilities of a specific ToM training in these two groups.Ninety-six patients with schizophrenia were enrolled and underwent a broad cognitive, social-cognitive and functional assessment before and after the ToM training.ANOVAs revealed that patients with schizophrenia and ATs are more impaired in cognition, ToM, in premorbid and daily functioning as well as in clinical features, as compared to patients without ATs. This latter group also showed a general improvement in mentalizing abilities after ToM training, while patients with schizophrenia and ATs did not, with a significant time...
Source: Schizophrenia Research: Cognition - Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research