[Differences in implicit and spontaneous mentalization in schizophrenia]

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Social Cognition

Background:

• Mentalization, crucial for social interaction, comprises explicit (conscious, verbal) and implicit (unconscious, intuitive) systems.
• Spontaneous mentalization refers to attributing mental states without explicit instruction.
• Schizophrenia is known to involve explicit mentalization deficits, but non-explicit aspects are less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a narrative review of literature on implicit and spontaneous mentalization in schizophrenia.
• To explore the current understanding of non-explicit mentalization deficits in schizophrenia.

Main Methods:

• A PubMed database search was conducted to identify relevant publications.
• Studies were analyzed based on their methodology, focusing on implicit and spontaneous mentalization separately.

Main Results:

• A total of 26 studies were reviewed: 9 on implicit and 17 on spontaneous mentalization.
• Implicit mentalization appears relatively retained, though influenced by neurocognitive deficits.
• A clear deficit in spontaneous mentalization was observed in schizophrenia patients.

Conclusions:

• Schizophrenia affects spontaneous mentalization, leading to reduced sensitivity in social situations.
• While implicit mentalization may be preserved, spontaneous mentalization deficits are significant.
• Understanding these distinct deficits in mentalization has implications for schizophrenia treatment.