Theory of Mind Deficits and Their Influence on Functional Impairment in Remitted Phase of Bipolar Disorder

Background: Functional impairment has been convincingly established in the euthymic/ remitted phase of bipolar disorder (BD). Though deficits in social cognition, especially theory of mind (ToM), predict functional impairment, the association has not been consistently proven. Methods: Thirty remitte...

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Main Authors: Pradeep Palaniappan, Krishnapriya Easwaran
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2021-05-01
Series:Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/0253717620930315
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author Pradeep Palaniappan
Krishnapriya Easwaran
author_facet Pradeep Palaniappan
Krishnapriya Easwaran
author_sort Pradeep Palaniappan
collection DOAJ
description Background: Functional impairment has been convincingly established in the euthymic/ remitted phase of bipolar disorder (BD). Though deficits in social cognition, especially theory of mind (ToM), predict functional impairment, the association has not been consistently proven. Methods: Thirty remitted subjects with BD (as per DSM 5) and 30 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were screened for eligibility and the sociodemographic details and ToM scores, that is, first-order ToM, second-order ToM, and Faux pas, were collected. In subjects with BD, functioning was assessed using Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) and illness variables were collected. Results: No significant difference was found in occupation or education between the groups. Remitted subjects with BD had statistically significant deficits in all domains of ToM, that is, first-order ToM ( r = 0.65), second-order ToM ( r = 0.69), and Faux pas ( r = 0.75). Significant correlations existed between first-order ToM and FAST total score, as well as second-order ToM and FAST total score, but the correlations dropped after controlling for duration of illness and number of depressive episodes. Quantile regression analysis showed that the only factors which predicted global functional impairment was a higher number of episodes ( βτ = –0.45, SE = 3.51, t = 0.13, P = 0.04), while all other illness variables and ToM failed to predict the global functioning. Conclusion: Though there seems to be an association between ToM and functioning, only illness variables predicted functional impairment in subjects with BD. We need prospective studies to delineate the contributors to functional impairment.
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spelling doaj.art-b7d8aa47635148fcad9095fa93d2b4e52022-12-21T22:25:31ZengSAGE PublishingIndian Journal of Psychological Medicine0253-71760975-15642021-05-014310.1177/0253717620930315Theory of Mind Deficits and Their Influence on Functional Impairment in Remitted Phase of Bipolar DisorderPradeep Palaniappan0Krishnapriya Easwaran1 Dept. of Psychiatry, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Coimbatore, India. Dept. of Psychiatry, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Coimbatore, India.Background: Functional impairment has been convincingly established in the euthymic/ remitted phase of bipolar disorder (BD). Though deficits in social cognition, especially theory of mind (ToM), predict functional impairment, the association has not been consistently proven. Methods: Thirty remitted subjects with BD (as per DSM 5) and 30 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were screened for eligibility and the sociodemographic details and ToM scores, that is, first-order ToM, second-order ToM, and Faux pas, were collected. In subjects with BD, functioning was assessed using Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) and illness variables were collected. Results: No significant difference was found in occupation or education between the groups. Remitted subjects with BD had statistically significant deficits in all domains of ToM, that is, first-order ToM ( r = 0.65), second-order ToM ( r = 0.69), and Faux pas ( r = 0.75). Significant correlations existed between first-order ToM and FAST total score, as well as second-order ToM and FAST total score, but the correlations dropped after controlling for duration of illness and number of depressive episodes. Quantile regression analysis showed that the only factors which predicted global functional impairment was a higher number of episodes ( βτ = –0.45, SE = 3.51, t = 0.13, P = 0.04), while all other illness variables and ToM failed to predict the global functioning. Conclusion: Though there seems to be an association between ToM and functioning, only illness variables predicted functional impairment in subjects with BD. We need prospective studies to delineate the contributors to functional impairment.https://doi.org/10.1177/0253717620930315
spellingShingle Pradeep Palaniappan
Krishnapriya Easwaran
Theory of Mind Deficits and Their Influence on Functional Impairment in Remitted Phase of Bipolar Disorder
Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine
title Theory of Mind Deficits and Their Influence on Functional Impairment in Remitted Phase of Bipolar Disorder
title_full Theory of Mind Deficits and Their Influence on Functional Impairment in Remitted Phase of Bipolar Disorder
title_fullStr Theory of Mind Deficits and Their Influence on Functional Impairment in Remitted Phase of Bipolar Disorder
title_full_unstemmed Theory of Mind Deficits and Their Influence on Functional Impairment in Remitted Phase of Bipolar Disorder
title_short Theory of Mind Deficits and Their Influence on Functional Impairment in Remitted Phase of Bipolar Disorder
title_sort theory of mind deficits and their influence on functional impairment in remitted phase of bipolar disorder
url https://doi.org/10.1177/0253717620930315
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