A Study on the Theory of Mind Deficits and Delusions in Schizophrenic Patients

This study was conducted to find differences between patients with schizophrenia and healthy control group in ToM and to examine relationships among intelligence, ToM, and delusion in patients with schizophrenia.

Data was collected from 50 patients of schizophrenia and 32 healthy subjects. Participants were given the psychological test form with structured questionnaire. The SPSS 22.0 program was used for t-test, ANCOVA, and, Pearson's Correlation. Measurements used for this study were Korean-Wechsler intelligence scale, three types of Theory of Mind test (Hinting task, False belief task, and Emotional attribution test), and Peters delusion inventory.

Performances of the ToM and intelligence in patients were lower than healthy controls. After controlling the impact of IQ, education level, and age, there was a difference between patients and healthy controls on the performance of the Hinting task (F(1,83) = 10.03, p =.002). Correlation analysis showed that the score of false belief task was correlated with delusion (r = -.360, p <.01) and intelligence (r =.449, p <.01). The emotional attribution task was correlated with intelligence (r = 0.309, p <.05).

Through the finding of this study, theory of mind is highly recommended as a new target factor considering to develop nursing interventions for schizophrenia.