Pragmatic Language and Theory of Mind Deficits in People with Schizophrenia and Their Relatives

Abstract

Background: Deficits in theory of mind have frequently been observed in people affected by illnesses characterized by disrupted social behaviour like autism and psychoses. In schizophrenia, a pragmatic deficit in expressive language can also be observed. The present study was designed in order to assess the suitability of theory of mind and pragmatic conversation abilities as possible cognitive endophenotypes of schizophrenia. Methods: First- and second-order false belief tasks and pragmatic deficits in expressive language were examined in 38 patients with schizophrenia, in 34 non-psychotic relatives and in 44 healthy controls. An extensive clinical and neuropsychological assessment was also conducted. Results: Schizophrenic people and their first-degree relatives performedworse than the normal control subjects in false belief and pragmatic conversation tasks. General cognitive ability and neuropsychological measures of executive functions were not related to social cognition tasks. Conclusions: Theory of mind disorders and failing to understand the gricean conversational maxims are associated with schizophrenia liability.

Theory of Mind in the Early Course of Schizophrenia

“…Adopting a family-based casecontrol design, Ho and colleagues [72] Recognition test. Contrary to previous studies [73,74], this study showed no group differences in the first-order ToM tasks, however patients performed less well on cognitive and affective components of the second-order mentalisation task compared with controls. Additionally, first-episode patients performed significantly less well on the faux pas recognition and understanding questions (no difference on control questions) in comparison with healthy controls [72].…”

Psykisk syke mangler rettssikkerhet

“…Både selvskading og rusproblemer forekommer hyppig som tilleggssymptomer. Det er også rapportert stor grad av tvang/rigiditet (58), sosiale og emosjonelle vansker (59) og språkvansker (60). Utviklingsforstyrrelser er vanligere hos unge med psykose (54).…”

Formal Thought Disorder and language impairment in schizophrenia

“…In some circumstances the distinction between References purely pragmatic disorders and those involving a deficient ToM may be very difficult 38 . Advances in the knowledge of language alterations and the recognition of their intimate correlation with thought disorders in schizophrenia has led the disease to be described as a "logopathy" 39 , or a "language related human specific disease".…”