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Implicit Mentalizing in Patients With Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Timea Csulak1,2, András Hajnal1, Szabolcs Kiss3
1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.
Frontiers in Psychology
|February 21, 2022
Summary
Implicit mentalizing, an unconscious cognitive process, is impaired in schizophrenia, showing reduced accuracy and slower reaction times. While some aspects may be intact, overall performance is impacted by neurocognitive deficits, suggesting potential therapeutic avenues.
Area of Science:
- Social Cognitive Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Mentalizing, crucial for social cognition, comprises explicit and implicit systems.
- Schizophrenia is known to involve deficits in explicit mentalizing.
- Limited data exist on implicit mentalizing in schizophrenia, prompting this review.
Approach:
- A systematic literature search was conducted across four major databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, Web of Science).
- Eleven publications were identified and selected for analysis.
- Five studies underwent quantitative synthesis (meta-analysis), while nine were included in a qualitative synthesis.
Key Points:
- Meta-analysis revealed significantly lower accuracy and slower reaction times in implicit mentalizing tasks for schizophrenia patients.
- The systematic review identified altered brain activation patterns, including visual scanning and face-gaze.
- Difficulties in perspective-taking were also noted in individuals with schizophrenia.
Conclusions:
- Implicit mentalizing performance is demonstrably affected in schizophrenia, alongside explicit mentalizing deficits.
- Certain implicit mentalizing elements, like intentionality detection, may be relatively preserved but limited by neurocognitive issues.
- These findings suggest potential implications for therapeutic interventions in schizophrenia.
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