Mentalization Profiles of Adolescents with Internalizing Disorders: Domain-specific Differences Compared to Typically...

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Psychiatry
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• Adolescence is a critical period for mentalization development, coinciding with the onset of psychiatric conditions.
• Mentalization impairments are transdiagnostic but understudied in adolescent populations, particularly in non-Western cultures.
• This study addresses the gap by examining mentalization profiles in Indian adolescents with internalizing disorders (AID) versus typically developing adolescents (TDA).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate differences in mentalization profiles between adolescents with internalizing disorders and typically developing adolescents in India.
• To explore the relationship between mentalization abilities and psychiatric symptoms in adolescents.

Main Methods:

• A sample of 166 adolescents (12-17 years) was recruited, comprising 83 AID and 83 TDA, matched for age, gender, and education.
• Participants completed the Mentalization Scale (MentS), Reflective Functioning Questionnaire for Youth (RFQ-Y), and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).
• Symptom severity in the AID group was assessed using the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale for Youth.

Main Results:

• Adolescents with internalizing disorders exhibited significantly lower scores in 'self-mentalization' and 'Overall mentalization Ability' compared to typically developing adolescents.
• No significant differences were observed in 'other-mentalization' or 'motivation to Mentalize' between the groups.
• 'Overall mentalization ability' negatively correlated with internalizing and externalizing problems, while 'motivation to Mentalize' positively correlated with emotional symptoms.

Conclusions:

• Differential impairments in specific mentalization domains exist between adolescents with internalizing disorders and their typically developing peers.
• Findings offer novel insights into adolescent mentalization through a developmental lens, with implications for understanding transdiagnostic vulnerabilities.
• The results underscore the clinical relevance of addressing mentalization deficits in adolescent mental health interventions.