Decoding and reasoning mental states in major depression and social anxiety disorder
Abstract Background Major depression (MDD) and social anxiety (SAD) disorders are debilitating psychiatric conditions characterized by disturbed interpersonal relationships. Despite these impairments in social relationships, research has been limited in simultaneously evaluating the dysfunction in M...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-09-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12888-020-02873-w |
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| author | Gheysar Maleki Abbas Zabihzadeh Mara J. Richman Zsolt Demetrovics Fatemeh Mohammadnejad |
| author_facet | Gheysar Maleki Abbas Zabihzadeh Mara J. Richman Zsolt Demetrovics Fatemeh Mohammadnejad |
| author_sort | Gheysar Maleki |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Major depression (MDD) and social anxiety (SAD) disorders are debilitating psychiatric conditions characterized by disturbed interpersonal relationships. Despite these impairments in social relationships, research has been limited in simultaneously evaluating the dysfunction in MDD or SAD within two aspects of theory of mind (ToM): decoding mental states (i.e., Affective ToM) and reasoning mental states (i.e., cognitive ToM). Taking this into consideration, the current study assesses both decoding and reasoning mental states abilities in MDD, SAD, and healthy controls (HC). Methods Subjects included 37 patients with MDD, 35 patients with SAD, and 35 HCs. ToM was measured with the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) and the Faux Pas Task, which assess decoding and reasoning mental states, respectively. Results Results revealed that in decoding of mental states, both the SAD and MDD groups had lower scores than the HC group; there was no significant difference between the SAD and MDD groups in decoding mental states. Conversely, in reasoning mental states, the SAD and HC groups had higher scores than the MDD group; no differences were found between the SAD and HC groups. Conclusions Clinicians and researchers should further consider parsing generalized impairment in ToM into two aspects: decoding and reasoning of mental states by using the aforementioned measurements. By further understanding the two aspects, we can create a potentially new clinical profile for mental health disorders, such as in this context with both decoding and reasoning mental state impairment in MDD and just a decoding impairment in SAD. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T00:26:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b7c3e929e18d453096daed7bd4b02ea1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T00:26:55Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-b7c3e929e18d453096daed7bd4b02ea12022-12-21T18:45:02ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2020-09-012011810.1186/s12888-020-02873-wDecoding and reasoning mental states in major depression and social anxiety disorderGheysar Maleki0Abbas Zabihzadeh1Mara J. Richman2Zsolt Demetrovics3Fatemeh Mohammadnejad4Department of Clinical Psychology, Shahid Behashti UniversityDepartment of Clinical Psychology, Shahid Behashti UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis UniversityDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Addiction, Eötvös Loránd UniversityOrthopedic Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical ScienceAbstract Background Major depression (MDD) and social anxiety (SAD) disorders are debilitating psychiatric conditions characterized by disturbed interpersonal relationships. Despite these impairments in social relationships, research has been limited in simultaneously evaluating the dysfunction in MDD or SAD within two aspects of theory of mind (ToM): decoding mental states (i.e., Affective ToM) and reasoning mental states (i.e., cognitive ToM). Taking this into consideration, the current study assesses both decoding and reasoning mental states abilities in MDD, SAD, and healthy controls (HC). Methods Subjects included 37 patients with MDD, 35 patients with SAD, and 35 HCs. ToM was measured with the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) and the Faux Pas Task, which assess decoding and reasoning mental states, respectively. Results Results revealed that in decoding of mental states, both the SAD and MDD groups had lower scores than the HC group; there was no significant difference between the SAD and MDD groups in decoding mental states. Conversely, in reasoning mental states, the SAD and HC groups had higher scores than the MDD group; no differences were found between the SAD and HC groups. Conclusions Clinicians and researchers should further consider parsing generalized impairment in ToM into two aspects: decoding and reasoning of mental states by using the aforementioned measurements. By further understanding the two aspects, we can create a potentially new clinical profile for mental health disorders, such as in this context with both decoding and reasoning mental state impairment in MDD and just a decoding impairment in SAD.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12888-020-02873-wMajor depressive disorderSocial anxiety disorderTheory of mindDecodingReasoning |
| spellingShingle | Gheysar Maleki Abbas Zabihzadeh Mara J. Richman Zsolt Demetrovics Fatemeh Mohammadnejad Decoding and reasoning mental states in major depression and social anxiety disorder BMC Psychiatry Major depressive disorder Social anxiety disorder Theory of mind Decoding Reasoning |
| title | Decoding and reasoning mental states in major depression and social anxiety disorder |
| title_full | Decoding and reasoning mental states in major depression and social anxiety disorder |
| title_fullStr | Decoding and reasoning mental states in major depression and social anxiety disorder |
| title_full_unstemmed | Decoding and reasoning mental states in major depression and social anxiety disorder |
| title_short | Decoding and reasoning mental states in major depression and social anxiety disorder |
| title_sort | decoding and reasoning mental states in major depression and social anxiety disorder |
| topic | Major depressive disorder Social anxiety disorder Theory of mind Decoding Reasoning |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12888-020-02873-w |
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