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Updated: Oct 3, 2025
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Design and Implementation of an fMRI Study Examining Thought Suppression in Young Women with, and At-risk, for Depression
Published on: May 19, 2015
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Theory of mind performance in depression: A meta-analysis
Bridget A Nestor1, Susanna Sutherland1, Judy Garber1
1Vanderbilt University, Department of Psychology and Human Development, Peabody #552, 230 Appleton Place, Nashville, TN, 37203, USA.
Journal of Affective Disorders
|February 17, 2022
Summary
Individuals with depression show impaired theory of mind (ToM), a key social-cognitive skill. This meta-analysis confirms a small to moderate deficit in ToM abilities among those with depression.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Social Cognition
Background:
- Theory of Mind (ToM) is crucial for social interaction, involving understanding others' mental states.
- Previous research on ToM deficits in depression presents mixed findings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively synthesize the association between depression and Theory of Mind.
- To determine the overall effect size of ToM impairment in individuals with depression.
Main Methods:
- A meta-analysis was performed on 43 studies examining ToM and depression.
- Moderator analyses investigated variables like ToM content, process, sample type, age, and gender.
Main Results:
- A significant, small to moderate impairment in ToM was found in individuals with depression (effect size g = -0.398).
- Moderator and meta-regression analyses explored factors influencing the ToM-depression link.
Conclusions:
- Depression is associated with measurable deficits in Theory of Mind.
- Findings are discussed within developmental, cognitive, social, and clinical contexts, with implications for interventions.
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