TY - JOUR
T1 - Theory of mind in borderline and cluster-c personality disorder
AU - Arntz, A.
AU - Bernstein, D.
AU - Oorschot, M.
AU - Schobre, P.
PY - 2009/1/1
Y1 - 2009/1/1
N2 - Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is associated with interpersonal problems, such as intense, unstable relationships and fears of abandonment, It has been hypothesized that deficits in social cognitive capacities explain these difficulties. One important aspect of social cognition is theory of mind (ToM)-the capacity to infer others' mental state. We tested TOM capacities with Happe's advanced ToM-test in 16 BPD patients, 16 Cluster-C PD patient controls, and 28 nonpatients. Social reasoning (WAIS Picture Arrangement), general intelligence, and Current mood were also assessed. With and Without controlling for intelligence, social reasoning, and mood, no evidence for deficits in ToM in BPD patients was found. In fact, both Cluster B and Cluster C patient groups tended to show generally Superior performance to the nonpatients on the subscales of Happe ToM-test. All tests correlated similarly with intelligence in the 3 groups. These findings do not support the hypothesis that BPD patients have inferior theory of mind capacities.
AB - Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is associated with interpersonal problems, such as intense, unstable relationships and fears of abandonment, It has been hypothesized that deficits in social cognitive capacities explain these difficulties. One important aspect of social cognition is theory of mind (ToM)-the capacity to infer others' mental state. We tested TOM capacities with Happe's advanced ToM-test in 16 BPD patients, 16 Cluster-C PD patient controls, and 28 nonpatients. Social reasoning (WAIS Picture Arrangement), general intelligence, and Current mood were also assessed. With and Without controlling for intelligence, social reasoning, and mood, no evidence for deficits in ToM in BPD patients was found. In fact, both Cluster B and Cluster C patient groups tended to show generally Superior performance to the nonpatients on the subscales of Happe ToM-test. All tests correlated similarly with intelligence in the 3 groups. These findings do not support the hypothesis that BPD patients have inferior theory of mind capacities.
U2 - 10.1097/NMD.0b013e3181be78fb
DO - 10.1097/NMD.0b013e3181be78fb
M3 - Article
C2 - 19996717
SN - 0022-3018
VL - 197
SP - 801
EP - 807
JO - Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
JF - Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
ER -