Evidence for Trait Related Theory of Mind Impairment in First Episode Psychosis Patients and Its Relationship with Processing Speed: A 3 Year Follow-up Study

Abstract

This study aimed to confirm whether first-episode psychosis patients present a stable trait impairment in theory of mind (ToM) and to examine the potential relationship between ToM and clinical symptomatology and neurocognition. Patients with a first episode of psychosis (N = 160) and healthy controls (N = 159) were assessed with an extensive neuropsychological test battery, which included a mental state decoding task known as “The Reading the Mind in the Eyes” (Eyes test), at baseline and reassessed after 1 and 3 years. The clinical group performed below healthy controls on the Eyes test while not showing test-retest differences between baseline and follow-up administrations. Analyses revealed age, education and premorbid IQ as potential moderators. Poorer performance on the Eyes test was not linked to clinical symptomatology but was associated with greater neurocognitive deficit, particularly related to processing speed. The persistence of ToM deficits in patients suggests that there are trait related metalizing impairments in first episode psychosis. This study shows the influence of processing speed and moderator variables on efficient ToM.

Improvement of Theory of Mind in Schizophrenia: A 15-Year Follow-Up Study

“…Therefore, ToM functions are less likely to be considered as a trait marker of schizophrenia. The findings of our study seem to stand at odds with the results of Ayesa-Arriola et al [26] who found stable RMET performances in psychosis over a 3-year follow-up period. There are several differences between the studies that can explain the seemingly discrepant findings.…”

“…There are several differences between the studies that can explain the seemingly discrepant findings. First, in our study, the follow-up period was longer, but the sample size was smaller as compared to the study of Ayesa-Arriola et al [26]. Second, Ayesa-Arriola et al [26] included first-episode patients with psychosis, whereas our sample consisted of more chronic cases with schizophrenia.…”

“…From the first psychotic episode, they investigated 160 patients three times (baseline, one year, three years). The data of Ayesa-Arriola et al [26] indicated that the ToM deficit was a stable, trait-like impairment, which did not change during the follow-up period. ToM deficits were not associated with clinical symptoms, but there was a relationship between ToM and neurocognitive dysfunctions, especially in relation to processing speed.…”

“…Ayesa-Arriola et al [26] applied the Reading the Mind from the Eyes Test (RMET) in a 3-year follow-up study. From the first psychotic episode, they investigated 160 patients three times (baseline, one year, three years).…”

Theory of Mind and Its Neuropsychological and Quality of Life Correlates in the Early Stages of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

“…The former correlation may suggest a potential role of years of education as a moderator factor of ToM abilities, especially for the affective subcomponent, as also demonstrated in studies performed in healthy populations that examined ET performances in relation to some demographic variables, including years of education (Fernández-Abascal et al, 2013; Ayesa-Arriola et al, 2016). In this regard, our results, although deserving further investigation because only correlational and not causal, may support the notion that education could influence and improve social cognition, thus encouraging the use of training programs, as demonstrated in other neuropsychiatric conditions (Rocha and Queirós, 2013; Sacks et al, 2013).…”