Open AccessImpaired empathy but no theory of mind deficits in adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Author(s) -
AbdelHamid Mona,
Niklewski Franziska,
Heßmann Philipp,
Guberiika,
Kownatka Melanie,
Kraemer Markus,
Scherbaum Norbert,
Dziobek Isabel,
Bartels Claudia,
Wiltfang Jens,
Kis Bernhard
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
brain and behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 41
ISSN - 2162-3279
DOI - 10.1002/brb3.1401
Subject(s) - theory of mind , psychology , executive functions , stroop effect , empathy , neuropsychology , attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , cognition , executive dysfunction , developmental psychology , cognitive psychology , audiology , clinical psychology , psychiatry , medicine
Objective The cognitive capacity to change perspective is referred to as theory of mind (ToM). ToM deficits are detectable in a variety of psychiatric and neurological disorders. Since executive abilities are closely associated with ToM skills, we suspected that due to a common neuropsychological basis, ToM deficits exist in treatment‐naïve adults with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods Performance of treatment‐naïve adults with ADHD ( N = 30) in tasks assessing executive functions (Trail Making Test, Stroop color–word test, and Test Battery for Attentional Performance), empathy skills (Cambridge Behaviour Scale), and ToM (Movie for Assessment of Social Cognition) was compared with that of a healthy control group ( N = 30) matched according to basic demographic variables. Results Compared to healthy controls, treatment‐naïve adults with ADHD showed deficits in various executive functions and the ability to empathize (all p < .05). However, no performance differences were found with regard to ToM (all n.s.). Conclusions Since studies in juveniles with ADHD often show impaired ToM performance, it is conceivable that ToM deficits may become attenuated due to neuronal development in adolescence. Furthermore, our findings imply that ToM impairments, even when present in adult ADHD, appear to be independent of executive deficits and might be explained by comorbid disorders.