Contributions of executive functions components to affective and cognitive theory of mind in outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia

Abstract Aim was to use a well-stablished Executive Functions (EF) model to test if different EF domains predict performance in affective and cognitive Theory of Mind (ToM) in schizophrenia. Fifty-four outpatients diagnosed with DSM-IV-TR schizophrenia disorder were recruited. Assessment consisted in Trail Making Test Part B (TMT-B) to assess Shifting, WAIS Backwards Digits to assess Updating, Stroop Test Non-congruent trials to assess Inhibition, Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET), and Hinting Test. Stroop Test Non-congruent predicted RMET scores, while TMT-B predicted Hinting Test scores. Findings suggest that cognitive and affective ToM performance are associated to specific EF processes.