Social Cognition and Functioning in Patients With Social Anxiety Disorder and/or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

In recent years, social cognition and one of its dimensions, the theory of mind, have been more commonly investigated in patients with social anxiety disorder (SAD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In this study, SAD, ADHD, comorbid SAD-ADHD, and healthy control (HC) groups, each consisting of 30 participants, were included and compared in terms of social cognition and functionality. Mean global functioning assessment scores were found to be significantly higher in the HC group compared with the other three groups and in the ADHD group compared with the SAD and SAD-ADHD groups. Mean Dokuz Eylül Theory of Mind Index total scores were found to be significantly higher in the HC group compared with the other three groups and in the SAD and SAD-ADHD groups compared with the ADHD group. These findings suggest that SAD patients with or without ADHD show better social cognition but worse functioning compared with pure ADHD patients.