Comparison of the Theory of Mind and False Beliefs in Patients with Major Depression Disorder, Bipolar Disorder I, II and Healthy Individuals

Aims: People usually experience the different ranges of mood states, and the combination of their emotional pretention is great in the same rate. The aim of this study was to compare the theory of mind and false beliefs in patients with major depression disorder, bipolar disorder I, II and healthy individuals. Instrument & Methods: In this descriptive comparative study, ۹۰ patients bedridden in Ostad Moharari Hospital, Shiraz, Iran, in ۲۰۱۳-۲۰۱۴, including ۳۰ patients with major depression disorder, ۳۰ patients with bipolar disorder I, and ۳۰ patients with bipolar disorder II were selected by purposive sampling method. Thirty healthy individuals were also selected as a control group. "Reading the Mind in the Eyes" test and “Unexpected transfer task” test were used and the data were analyzed, by SPSS ۱۹ software, using MANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc test. Findings: The theory of mind in the studied groups was significantly different (P=۰.۰۰۱, F(۶, ۲۳۰)=۷.۱) in a way that it was significantly different between the major depression group and bipolar disorder I, II with the healthy group (p=۰.۰۰۱), But there was no significant difference among other three groups (p>۰.۰۵). The false belief showed no specific difference among ۴ groups (p>۰.۰۵). Conclusion: The score of theory of mind in the healthy group is higher than the major depression group and bipolar disorder I, II groups. However, there is no difference in the theory of mind among other three groups. Also, there is no difference in false belief among ۴ groups.

Keywords:

Theory of Mind , False Beliefs , Major Depression Disorder , Bipolar Disorder