Theory of Mind Deficit in Schizophrenic Patients with Positive and Negative Symptoms: State or Trait

The aim of this research was to study the theory of mind deficit in schizophrenic patients with positive and negative symptoms, their siblings and its comparison with healthy people.

In a causal-comparative study, 40 schizophrenic patients and 40 siblings were selected from Razi Hospital through available sampling method. Forty normal people as control group were also selected from employees of the Education Organization after matching with the patient group by multi-phase cluster sampling. All subjects were administered Baron-Cohen’s “Reading the Mind in the Eyes'' test revised version. Data were then analyzed.

The results showed that theory of mind is impaired in people suffering from schizophrenia compared to the healthy people (F=69.54; P<0.01). This deficit is trait-dependent in schizophrenic patients. However, there was no significant difference between patients with negative and positive symptoms in type of the theory of mind deficit (state or trait).

According to the findings, the theory of mind in schizophrenic patients seems to be impaired before being diagnosed and this deficit is exacerbated by the illness experience.