The role of social cognition in psychopathology: Comparison of theory of mind and attributional style in patients With major depression disorder and healthy peers

This study aimed to compare theory of mind and attributional style in patient with major depression disorder and healthy peers. A causal-comparative study was used in this research. Statistical population of this research include all patients with major depression disorder of  Razi Psychiatry Hospital. The sample consisted of 31 patient with major depression disorder, and 40 healthy peers who were selected via availabla sampling method. For data collection, were administered for every 2 groups the reading the mind in Baron-Cohen eyes tests and attributional styles questionnaire. Then the data was performed in program spss version 21 using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and t student test.Results of MANOVA test revealed that there was significant difference in attributional style of two group about positive and negative events. The patients with major depression use inner, stable and general attribution style about negative events. Also, they used outer, unstable and specific attribution style about positive events.  Results of t student test showed that depressed patients have weaker skills in mind reading than healthy peers. According to finding of this study, Pessimistic attribution style and Defects in mind reading skills can to be discussed as a etiology hypotheses in depression.