Abstract：
Theory of mind (ToM) deficits have been reported in persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). However, most studies have used pictures or written scenarios as stimuli without distinguishing between cognitive and affective ToM, and no studies have investigated older pwMS. We recruited 13 young healthy controls (HC), 14 young pwMS, 14 elderly HC and 15 elderly pwMS. ToM was measured using an adaptation of the Conversations and Insinuations task (Ouellet et al., J. Int. Neuropsychol. Soc., 16, 2010, 287). In this ecological video-based task, participants watch four 2-minute videos of social interactions, which are interrupted by multiple choice questions about either the emotional state (affective ToM) or the intention (cognitive ToM) of the characters. They also underwent a short neuropsychological battery including cognitive, executive and social cognition tasks and questionnaires. We observed a significant interaction between the ToM conditions and the groups regarding ToM performance. Elderly pwMS scored significantly lower than elderly HC and young pwMS in cognitive ToM, but not in affective ToM. They also showed the largest discrepancy between their cognitive and affective ToM. Young pwMS showed relatively preserved ToM in both conditions. Both cognitive and affective ToM correlated with global cognition and executive abilities, but not with social cognitive measures (emotion recognition, real-life empathy). This study suggests that decline in cognitive ToM might be accentuated by advancing age in pwMS. These impairments are most likely underlied by cognitive and executive difficulties, but not by core social cognitive impairments. Future studies should investigate the real-life impacts of ToM impairments in pwMS.
摘要：
据报道，多发性硬化症（pwMS）患者存在心理理论（ToM）缺陷。然而,大多数研究都使用图片或书面场景作为刺激，而不区分认知和情感ToM，并且没有研究调查较老的pwMS。我们招募了13名年轻健康对照（HC），14年轻的pwMS，14老年HC和15老年PWMS。使用对话和暗示任务的改编来测量ToM(Ouellet等人。,J、国际。神经精神醇。Soc.,16，2010，287）。在这个基于生态视频的任务中，参与者观看了四个2分钟的社交互动视频，这些问题被有关角色的情绪状态（情感ToM）或意图（认知ToM）的多项选择题打断。他们还接受了一个简短的神经心理电池，包括认知，执行和社会认知任务和问卷。我们观察到ToM条件和关于ToM性能的组之间存在显著的相互作用。在认知ToM中，老年pwMS得分明显低于老年HC和青年pwMS，但不是在情感性的ToM.他们的认知和情感ToM之间也表现出最大的差异。YoungpwMS在两种条件下都显示出相对保存的ToM。认知和情感ToM都与全球认知和执行能力相关，但不是社会认知措施(情感识别，现实生活中的同理心)。这项研究表明，认知ToM的下降可能会因pwMS年龄的增长而加剧。这些障碍很可能是认知和执行困难的基础，但不是因为核心社会认知障碍。未来的研究应该调查在pwMS中ToM损伤的现实生活影响。
