Data from: Hyper-Theory-of-Mind in children with psychotic experiences

Background: Alterations in Theory-of-Mind (ToM) are associated with psychotic disorder. In addition, studies in children have documented that alterations in ToM are associated with Psychotic Experiences (PE). Our aim was to examine associations between an exaggerated type of ToM (HyperToM) and PE in children. Children with this type of alteration in ToM infer mental states when none are obviously suggested, and predict behaviour on the basis of these erroneous beliefs. Individuals with HyperToM do not appear to have a conceptual deficit (i.e. lack of representational abilities), but rather they apply their theory of the minds of others in an incorrect or biased way. Method: Hypotheses were tested in two studies with two independent samples: (i) a general population sample of 1630 Danish children aged 11–12 years, (ii) a population-based sample of 259 Dutch children aged 12–13 years, pertaining to a case-control sampling frame of children with auditory verbal hallucinations. Multinomial regression analyses were carried out to investigate the associations between PE and ToM and HyperToM respectively. Analyses were adjusted for gender and proxy measures of general intelligence. Results: Low ToM score was significantly associated with PE in sample I (OR = 1.6 95%CI 1.1–2.3 χ2(4) = 12.42 p = 0.010), but not in sample II (OR = 0.9 95%CI 0.5–1.8 χ2(3) = 7.13 p = 0.816). HyperToM was significantly associated with PE both in sample I (OR = 1.8, 95%CI 1.2–2.7 χ2(3) = 10.11 p = 0.006) and II (OR = 4.6, 95%CI 1.3–16.2 χ2(2) = 7.56 p = 0.018). HyperToM was associated particularly with paranoid delusions in both sample I (OR = 2.0, 95%CI: 1.1–3.7% χ2(4) = 9.93 p = 0.021) and II (OR = 6.2 95%CI: 1.7–23.6% χ2(4) = 9.90 p = 0.044). Conclusion: Specific alterations in ToM may be associated with specific types of psychotic experiences. HyperToM may index risk for developing psychosis and paranoid delusions in particular.研究背景：心理理论（Theory-of-Mind, ToM）的异常改变与精神障碍密切相关。此外，针对儿童群体的研究已证实，心理理论异常与精神病性体验（Psychotic Experiences, PE）存在显著关联。本研究旨在探讨儿童中过度心理理论（HyperToM）这一特殊类型的心理理论异常与精神病性体验之间的关联。存在此类心理理论异常的儿童，会在无明显线索提示的情况下推断他人的心理状态，并基于这些错误信念预测他人行为。具备过度心理理论特征的个体并未出现概念性缺损（即缺乏表征能力），仅是以错误或存在偏差的方式运用其对他人心理的认知理论。 研究方法：本研究通过两项独立样本的研究对研究假设进行验证：（1）包含1630名11~12岁丹麦儿童的普通人群样本；（2）包含259名12~13岁荷兰儿童的基于人群的样本，该样本基于言语性幻听儿童的病例对照抽样框架构建。分别开展多项回归分析，以探究精神病性体验分别与心理理论、过度心理理论之间的关联。分析过程中对性别以及一般智力的替代评估指标进行了校正。 研究结果：在样本I中，较低的心理理论得分与精神病性体验存在显著关联（比值比OR=1.6，95%置信区间CI=1.1~2.3，卡方χ²(4)=12.42，p=0.010），但在样本II中未观察到该关联（OR=0.9，95%CI=0.5~1.8，χ²(3)=7.13，p=0.816）。过度心理理论与精神病性体验的显著关联在样本I（OR=1.8，95%CI=1.2~2.7，χ²(3)=10.11，p=0.006）与样本II（OR=4.6，95%CI=1.3~16.2，χ²(2)=7.56，p=0.018）中均存在。进一步分析显示，在两项样本中，过度心理理论均与偏执型妄想存在尤为显著的关联：样本I（OR=2.0，95%CI=1.1~3.7，χ²(4)=9.93，p=0.021），样本II（OR=6.2，95%CI=1.7~23.6，χ²(4)=9.90，p=0.044）。 研究结论：特定类型的心理理论异常可能与特定类别的精神病性体验相关。过度心理理论或可作为精神障碍尤其是偏执型妄想发病风险的潜在标志物。