Article

Impairments in theory of mind shortly after traumatic brain injury and at 1-year follow-up

Details

Citation

Milders M, Ietswaart M, Crawford JR & Currie D (2006) Impairments in theory of mind shortly after traumatic brain injury and at 1-year follow-up. Neuropsychology, 20 (4), pp. 400-408. https://doi.org/10.1037/0894-4105.20.4.400

Abstract
Most studies into acquired theory of mind (ToM) deficits assessed patients once, long after the onset of brain injury. As a result, the time course of acquired ToM impairments is largely unknown. The present study examined whether ToM impairments following traumatic brain injury (TBI) recover, remain stable, or worsen over time. Because of the alleged association between ToM and social communication, ToM impairments may deteriorate because of changes in patients' social environment following injury. ToM ability and executive functioning were assessed shortly after injury and at 1-year follow-up. Compared with the orthopedic control group, the TBI group was impaired on ToM and executive functioning tasks at both assessments. Furthermore, the ToM impairments in the TBI group remained stable over time.

Keywords
traumatic brain injury; theory of mind; executive function; recovery; follow-up

Journal
Neuropsychology: Volume 20, Issue 4

StatusPublished
FundersScottish Executive
Publication date31/07/2006
Publication date online31/07/2006
URLhttp://hdl.handle.net/1893/20240
PublisherAmerican Psychological Association
ISSN0894-4105
eISSN1931-1559

People (1)

Dr Magdalena Ietswaart

Dr Magdalena Ietswaart

Senior Lecturer, Psychology