Comparison of executive functions and the ability of the theory of mind in patients with schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder and normal people

Since interpersonal parables and cognitive defects have an effective role in the life of people with Borderline personality disorder and schizophrenia disorders, the aimed current research at comparing their executive functions and Theory of Mind ability in with a normal group.

This study is a descriptive comparative study thorough which the executive and functions Theory of Mind ability have been compared among three groups. The statistical population consists of all outpatient and inpatient patients affected with chronic schizophrenia and Borderline personality disorder who had referred to the Psychiatry Clinic of Imam Hossein Hospital in Tehran in 1397. The participants were selected through convenience sampling 74 patients were selected. Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test were administered to all subjects in individual sessions and finally, data were analyzed via using Multivariate Analysis Test and Tukey Follow-up Tests.

Results indicated that there is generally a significant difference(p≤ 0.01) between the group’s Borderline personality disorder and schizophrenia disorders with normal people in executive functions and Theory of Mind ability and also significant difference(p≤ 0.05) between the group’s Borderline personality disorder and schizophrenia disorders in sub scale executive functions and Theory of Mind ability and Schizophrenic patients are weaker than those with borderline personality disorder.

Schizophrenic patients had weaker executive function and Theory of Mind ability than the Borderline personality disorder and normal subjective. And chronicity had a great effect on executive function and Theory of Mind ability disorder among the patients.