Cited by 832Schizophrenia research and treatmentMental Health and PsychiatryPsychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research

Theory of mind in schizophrenia: Meta-analysis

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Sprong, Mirjam, Schothorst, Patricia, Vos, Ellen, Hox, Joop, Van Engeland, Herman·2007·British Journal of Psychiatry

Abstract

Background: Mentalising impairment (an impaired ability to think about people in terms of their mental states) has frequently been associated with schizophrenia. Aims: To assess the magnitude of the deficit and analyse associated factors. Method: Twenty-nine studies of mentalising in schizophrenia (combined n = 1518), published between January 1993 and May 2006, were included to estimate overall effect size. Study descriptors predicted to influence effect size were analysed using weighted regression-analysis techniques. Separate analyses were performed for symptom subgroups and task types. Results: The estimated overall effect size was large and statistically significant (d= –1.255, P < 0.001) and was not significantly affected by sample characteristics. All symptom subgroups showed significant mentalising impairment, but participants with symptoms of disorganisation were significantly more impaired than the other subgroups (P<0.01). Conclusions: This meta-analysis showed significant and stable mentalising impairment in schizophrenia. The finding that patients in remission are also impaired favours the notion that mentalising impairment represents a possible trait marker of schizophrenia.

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Crossref · 10.1192/bjp.bp.107.035899

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  • Prior meta-analyses of theory of mind have consistently found large deficits in schizophrenia.

    “Theory of mind is one aspect of cognitive empathy, and meta-analyses of this construct have consistently shown large deficits in people with schizophrenia (Bora et al., 2009;Savla et al., 2013;Sprong et al., 2007).”

    From Empathy in schizophrenia: A meta-analysis of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (2017) · cites this paper as Sprong et al., 2007

  • The perspective-taking effect (g = .55) was smaller than those in prior theory-of-mind meta-analyses (1.10, .96, and 1.26).

    “Our effect is somewhat smaller (g = .55,compared to 1.10, .96,and 1.26 found in the previous 3 cited meta-analyses).”

    From Empathy in schizophrenia: A meta-analysis of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (2017) · cites this paper as Sprong et al., 2007

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Authors
Sprong, M., Schothorst, P., Vos, E., Hox, J., & Van Engeland, H.
Affiliations
  • University Medical Center Utrecht (NL)
  • Utrecht University (NL)
Corresponding author
Sprong, Mirjam
Venue
British Journal of Psychiatry
Published
2007-07
Volume
191
Issue
1
Pages
5-13
ISSN
  • 0007-1250 (ISSN-L)
  • 1472-1465
OpenAlex
W2096486434
Cited by
832
References
64
Citations by year
2026: 21 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 40 · 2020: 45 · 2019: 56 · 2018: 57 · 2017: 51 · 2016: 53 · 2015: 59 · 2014: 57 · 2013: 72 · 2012: 54
FWCI
5.37
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The British Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Mental Health and Psychiatry
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
Keywords
theory of mind, schizophrenia, symptom subtypes, remission, trait markers, meta-analysis of effect sizes
MeSH terms
Adult, Child, Child, Preschool, Cognition Disorders, Humans, Schizophrenia, Schizophrenic Psychology, Severity of Illness Index, Social Perception, Statistics as Topic, Effect Modifier, Epidemiologic

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