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Meta-analysis of Theory of Mind (ToM) impairment in bipolar disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 October 2015

E. Bora*
Affiliation:
Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, South Carlton, VIC, Australia
C. Bartholomeusz
Affiliation:
Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, South Carlton, VIC, Australia Orygen, National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health and The Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
C. Pantelis
Affiliation:
Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, South Carlton, VIC, Australia
*
* Address for correspondence: Dr E. Bora, Department of Psychiatry, The Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Alan Gilbert Building NNF level 3, Carlton 3053, Australia. (Email: emrebora@hotmail.com)
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Abstract

Background

Theory of mind (ToM) dysfunction is prominent in a number of psychiatric disorders, in particular, autism and schizophrenia, and can play a significant role in poor functioning. There is now emerging evidence suggesting that ToM abilities are also impaired in bipolar disorder (BP); however, the relationship between ToM deficits and mood state is not clear.

Method

We conducted a meta-analysis of ToM studies in BP. Thirty-four studies comparing 1214 patients with BP and 1097 healthy controls were included. BP groups included remitted (18 samples, 545 BP patients), subsyndromal (12 samples, 510 BP patients), and acute (manic and/or depressed) (10 samples, 159 BP patients) patients.

Results

ToM performance was significantly impaired in BP compared to controls. This impairment was evident across different types of ToM tasks (including affective/cognitive and verbal/visual) and was also evident in strictly euthymic patients with BP (d = 0.50). There were no significant differences between remitted and subsyndromal samples. However, ToM deficit was significantly more severe during acute episodes (d = 1.23). ToM impairment was significantly associated with neurocognitive and particularly with manic symptoms.

Conclusion

Significant but modest sized ToM dysfunction is evident in remitted and subsyndromal BP. Acute episodes are associated with more robust ToM deficits. Exacerbation of ToM deficits may contribute to the more significant interpersonal problems observed in patients with acute or subsyndromal manic symptoms. There is a need for longitudinal studies comparing the developmental trajectory of ToM deficits across the course of the illness.

Information

Type
Review Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 
Figure 0

Table 1. Studies included into the meta-analysis

Figure 1

Fig. 1. Forest plot for ToM differences between bipolar disorder and healthy controls.

Figure 2

Table 2. Mean weighted effect sizes for ToM differences between patients with bipolar disorder and healthy controls

Supplementary material: File

Bora supplementary material

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