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Updated: Jul 2, 2026
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Assessment and Communication for People with Disorders of Consciousness
Published on: August 1, 2017
Mental state decoding v. mental state reasoning as a mediator between cognitive and social function in psychosis
Nicola McGlade1, Caragh Behan, Judy Hayden
1Neuropsychiatric Genetics Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, Trinity Health Sciences Building, St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland.
Summary
Mental state decoding, not reasoning, better predicts social function in schizophrenia patients. This finding highlights the importance of decoding abilities for social functioning in this population.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Schizophrenia is characterized by deficits in theory of mind, a complex cognitive ability.
- Theory of mind is often divided into mental state reasoning and mental state decoding.
- Understanding these components is crucial for addressing social functioning impairments in schizophrenia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate which component of theory of mind, mental state reasoning or mental state decoding, is a stronger predictor of social function in schizophrenia.
- To explore the mediating role of mental state decoding in the relationship between neuropsychological performance and social function.
Main Methods:
- The study included 73 out-patients with chronic schizophrenia.
- Mental state reasoning was assessed using the 'Hinting task'.
- Mental state decoding was assessed using the 'Eyes task'.
Main Results:
- Performance on the 'Eyes task' (mental state decoding) significantly predicted social function.
- Performance on the 'Hinting task' (mental state reasoning) did not predict social function as strongly.
- Mental state decoding performance partially mediated the effect of basic neuropsychological abilities on social function.
Conclusions:
- Mental state decoding is particularly relevant for social function deficits in schizophrenia.
- Targeting mental state decoding may be a promising therapeutic avenue for improving social functioning in schizophrenia.
- These findings contribute to a growing body of evidence emphasizing the role of specific theory of mind components in schizophrenia's social impairments.
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