Theory of mind, schizotypy, and persecutory ideation in young adults

Cogn Neuropsychiatry. 2008 May;13(3):233-49. doi: 10.1080/13546800801936516.

Abstract

Introduction: Previous studies of the relation between theory of mind (ToM) and schizotypy have suggested that ToM deficits may be associated with positive signs (e.g., hallucination- and delusion-like experiences). Good theoretical reasons exist to suggest that this relation may be largely due to ToM deficits being predominantly associated with the occurrence of persecutory delusion-like beliefs. This study set out to test this hypothesis and address limitations of previous research.

Method: Online administration of measures to a large nonclinical sample of young adults (N=828) was used to examine schizotypy, assessed by a new 30-item version of the Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences (Mason, Claridge, & Jackson, 1995), persecutory delusion-like beliefs, assessed by the Persecutory Ideation Questionnaire (McKay, Langdon, & Coltheart, 2006), and ToM, indexed by the Hinting task (Corcoran, Mercer, & Frith, 1995) and a cartoon comprehension task (Corcoran, Cahill, & Frith, 1997).

Results: No relations with ToM were found for global, positive, or negative schizotypy, nor persecutory delusion-like beliefs. This was the case both for whole group correlations and in analyses comparing groups formed by fifth-centile (top-bottom) splits by schizotypy scores. Scores on the two ToM tasks were not strongly correlated.

Conclusion: Our findings point to no correlations with ToM for either schizotypy or persecutory ideation. These findings are discussed in relation to previous research.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Delusions*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Models, Psychological
  • Paranoid Disorders*
  • Schizotypal Personality Disorder / psychology*