Journal Article

Theory of Mind (ToM) Performance in High Functioning Autism (HFA) and Schizotypal–Schizoid Personality Disorders (SSPD) Patients

Booules-Katri, Tereza-Maria, Obiols, Jordi E., Pamias, Montserrat, Pedreño, Carla, Navarro, Jose-Blás

2019

Overview

The similarities between high functioning autism (HFA) and schizotypal–schizoid personality disorder (SSPD) in terms of social cognition and interpersonal deficits may lead to confusion in symptom interpretation, and consequently result in misdiagnosis. Thus, this study aims to investigate differences in mentalizing with particular interest on the socio-cognitive and socio-affective dimensions. Three Advanced Theory of Mind (ToM) tests were applied in 35 patients with HFA, 30 patients with SSPD and 36 healthy controls. Individuals with HFA showed greater impairment and no dissociation between affective and cognitive ToM components. Conversely, SSPD individuals displayed less difficulties but greater impairments on the cognitive component. Beyond the replicability of ToM impairment in HFA individuals, our findings suggest more impaired cognitive ToM in SSPD participants which further support the sequence of mentalizing development build upon different chronological stages.

• Publisher: Springer US,Springer,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Autism / Autism Spectrum Disorders / Behavioral Science and Psychology / Brain / Child and School Psychology / Clinical Diagnosis / Cognition / Cognitive Ability / Cognitive impairment / Communication Problems / Comparative Analysis / Confusion / Control Groups / Delayed Speech / Departments / Developmental Studies Programs / Disorders / Dissociation / Empathy / High functioning / Interpersonal Competence / Interpersonal Relationship / Meta Analysis / Misdiagnosis / Neuropsychology / Neurosciences / Original Paper / Patients / Pediatrics / Personality / Personality disorders / Personality Problems / Personality Traits / Pervasive Developmental Disorders / Psychology / Psychopathology / Psychosis / Public Health / Role Theory / Schizophrenia / Schizotypal personality disorder / Schizotypal personality disorders / Social Cognition / Social interactions / Social perception / Social Problems / Symptoms (Individual Disorders) / Theory of Mind / Verbal Communication