Deficits in neurocognition, theory of mind, and social functioning in patients with schizophrenic disorders: are they related?

In schizophrenic disorders, impairments in social functioning, neurocognition, and theory of mind (ToM) are frequently reported but little is known about the relationships between them. The aim of this study is twofold: (a) to compare neurocognition, social-functioning, and ToM in patients and controls and (b) to investigate whether impairments in these domains are related to psychiatric symptoms. Participants were 16 outpatients with schizophrenic disorders (DSM-IV), and 16 healthy controls. We administered neuropsychological tests, ToM, social functioning, and psychopathology measures. Patients and controls differed on most neurocognitive variables (memory, attention, executive functions). We also found significant differences in 1 ToM factor and 2 social measures. The latter were the only 2 related to manic-hostility and negative symptoms subscores of Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. Our findings suggest that there is no direct relation between neurocognitive impairments and social dysfunctions.