TOM and communication disorders in schizophrenia

Schizophrenic patients not only exhibit behavioral and thought disorders, but also cognitive disorders, particularly language disorders, which cause them serious communication difficulties. These difficulties can be explained by a deficit in theory of mind (TOM), a deficiency that is widely accepted by the scientific community. We first provided a clinical description of schizophrenia, then discussed the various language disorders and deficits that affect communication, including TOF. In this study, we decided to test TOF in patients with schizophrenia using a specific protocol. The results were compared to a control population and were also compared within the schizophrenic population itself. Finally, the analyses revealed significant results between populations but, unfortunately, were inconclusive within populations. However, as TOM is a complex skill that is difficult to dissociate from other cognitive skills, we could expect to encounter overly influential biases.