21/8/2021 Characterization and interrelationships of theory of mind, socially competitive emotions and affective empathy in bipolar disorder - P…

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Br J Clin Psychol. 2021 Jul 7. doi: 10.1111/bjc.12318. Online ahead of print.

Characterization and interrelationships of theory of

mind, socially competitive emotions and affective
empathy in bipolar disorder FOLLOW NCBI

Cecilie K Lemvigh 1 2 3 , James A Karantonis 3 4 , Lisa S Furlong 3 , Sean P Carruthers 4 ,

Christos Pantelis 1 3 5 , Susan L Rossell 4 6 , Tamsyn E Van Rheenen 3 4

Affiliations
PMID: 34232514 DOI: 10.1111/bjc.12318 Follow NLM

Abstract
Objective: Evidence shows impaired theory of mind (ToM) in patients with bipolar disorder (BD), yet National Library of Medicine
research examining its cognitive and affective components simultaneously is sparse. Moreover, 8600 Rockville Pike
recognition of socially competitive 'fortune of others' emotions (e.g. envy/gloat) may be related to Bethesda, MD 20894
ToM, but has not been assessed in BD. Finally, if and how ToM and 'fortune of others' emotions relate
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to affective empathy in BD is currently unclear. This study aimed to address these points.
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Methods: 64 BD patients and 34 healthy controls completed the Yoni task, a visual task assessing Privacy
first- and second-order cognitive and affective ToM as well as 'fortune of others' emotions. The
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Toronto Empathy Questionnaire was used to assess self-reported affective empathy.
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Results: Patients with BD showed no deficits in cognitive and affective ToM or recognition of 'fortune Careers
of others' emotions. The ability to infer 'fortune of others' emotions correlated with several ToM
measures, indicating that these functions are part of the same system. Patients with BD reported NLM NIH HHS USA.gov
similar levels of affective empathy to healthy controls, and this was not related to ToM or 'fortune of
others' emotions, suggesting that affective empathy represents a separate social domain.

Conclusions: These findings highlight areas of spared social functioning in BD, which may be utilized
in therapeutic strategies.

Practitioner points: Our results suggest theory of mind and empathy may represent areas of
potentially spared cognitive functioning in BD. As many BD patients have experienced adversity
during developmental periods in which theory of mind and empathy develop, our findings suggest
that these abilities may be markers of resilience in the disorder. Our findings are important for the
formulation of therapeutic interventions for BD, which may include considering practical ways that a
patients' knowledge of intact ToM and empathy could be utilized to reduce self-stigma and promote
self-efficacy, improved well-being and functioning.

Keywords: empathic abilities; mentalizing; mood disorder; social cognition.

© 2021 The British Psychological Society.

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https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34232514/ 1/1