Decreased theory of mind skills, increased emotion dysregulation and insight levels in adolescents diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder

Abstract

Background: An abnormal interaction between cognition and emotion may contribute to the development of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Aims: In this study, we aimed to evaluate theory of mind and emotion regulation skills in adolescents diagnosed with OCD. In addition, the results were evaluated in accordance with patients’ insight levels.

Methods: This study was conducted with 50 patients, who were aged between 11 and 16 and who were newly diagnosed with OCD and 50 healthy individuals. The Turkish version of the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children – Present and Lifetime was used to diagnose OCD and other comorbidities. The Children’s Yale–Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale, the Children’s Depression Inventory, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children were used for clinical evaluation. The intelligence levels were assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised Short Form. Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test was used in patients. The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale was also used to evaluate the skills of regulating emotions.

Results: Patients with OCD had lower ability with regard to reading minds in the eyes and emotion regulation than the healthy individuals. Patients with OCD, who had a poor insight, had more difficulty in reading minds in the eyes and emotion regulation than those with good insight.

Conclusions: This study supports the idea that OCD is related to deficits in theory of mind and emotion regulation skills. Thus, further studies are required to confirm the findings of this study.

Keywords:

• Adolescent
• emotion regulation
• obsessive compulsive disorder
• theory of mind

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kemal Utku Yazici

Kemal Utku Yazici is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and currently works as assistant professor at Firat University Medical Faculty.

Ipek Percinel Yazici

Ipek Percinel Yazici is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and currently works as assistant professor at Firat University Medical Faculty.