Associations between theory of mind and severity of internalizing disorders in a mexican sample

Abstract

Internalizing disorders (IDs) are the most common group of mental illnesses, characterized by fear, anxiety,  and sadness. There is evidence of cognitive  deficits associated with these disorders, including  Theory of Mind (ToM). Cross-cultural evidence is lacking.  The objectives of the study were to determine  whether individuals with IDs exhibit ToM alterations  compared to those without IDs, and to test the  correlation between severity of IDs and ToM in a  Mexican sample. We designed a case-control study,  conforming to the cases with individuals who met  criteria for major depressive disorder, general anxiety  disorder or social anxiety disorder, according to a  structured interview. ToM was measured with the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET). Thirty-nine cases and 33 controls were recruited. We found no  significant differences between the groups, and no  correlation between severity of IDs and scores of the  RMET. Mild non-significant tendencies were found  towards higher scores in the ToM of individuals with IDs.  It is assumed that individuals with IDs could be  more alert and perceptive to their own emotions  because of their intensity and frequency, this could in  turn make them more aware of the emotions of others,  even in the face of limited information.