Impaired Theory of Mind and psychosocial functioning among pediatric patients with Type I versus Type II bipolar disorder

• Published in: Psychiatry research Vol. 215; no. 3; pp. 740 - 746
• Main Authors: Schenkel, Lindsay S, Chamberlain, Todd F, Towne, Terra L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ireland Ltd 30-03-2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Biological and medical sciences; Bipolar Disorder - classification; Bipolar Disorder - diagnosis; Bipolar Disorder - psychology; Bipolar disorders; Child; Cognition Disorders - diagnosis; Cognition Disorders - psychology; Comprehension; Emotions; Female; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Mood disorders; Pediatric bipolar disorder; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Psychosocial functioning; Reaction Time; Social Adjustment; Theory of Mind; Psychosocial functioning; Pediatric bipolar disorder; Theory of mind; Human; Mood disorder; Pediatrics; Social behavior; Social interaction; Bipolar disorder; Child; Comparative study; Social cognition
• ISSN: 0165-1781; 1872-7123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2013.10.025

Abstract Deficits in Theory of Mind (ToM) have been documented among pediatric patients with Bipolar Disorder (BD). However, fewer studies have directly examined differences between type I and type II patients and whether or not ToM deficits are related to psychosocial difficulties. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare type I versus type II pediatric bipolar patients and matched Healthy Controls (HC) on ToM and interpersonal functioning tasks. All participants completed the Revised Mind in the Eyes Task (MET), the Cognitive and Emotional Perspective Taking Task (CEPTT), and the Index of Peer Relations (IPR). Type I BD patients reported greater peer difficulties on the IPR compared to HC, and also performed more poorly on the MET and the cognitive condition of the CEPTT, but did not differ significantly on the emotional condition. There were no significant group differences between type II BD patients and HC. More impaired ToM performance was associated with poorer interpersonal functioning. Type I BD patients show deficits in the ability to understand another's mental state, irrespective of emotional valence. Deficits in understanding others' mental states could be an important treatment target for type I pediatric patients with BD.