About this Research Topic

Background

Theory of mind (ToM) or mentalizing is a fundamental component of human cognition and is essential for social functioning. It is defined as the ability to ascribe mental states, such as desires, beliefs, intentions, and emotions, to oneself and others and to explain and predict behaviour based on these mental states. ToM is also a part of current models of empathy, which include two ToM systems, a cognitive and an affective system, with separate but interacting brain networks. The cognitive ToM system involves thinking about thoughts, intentions, or beliefs. The affective ToM involves thinking about feelings and is distinct from the affective empathy system, which involves sharing the emotional experiences of others.

Important developmental ToM milestones are in preschool, school-age, and early adolescence. More recent findings show that there are also vast individual differences in the ToM of adults. Further, impairments in ToM have been reported in many psychological disorders. In fact, dysfunctional ToM has been proposed as a clinical marker in over 30 clinical conditions, including autism, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and eating disorders. Why so many distinct mental disorders share a common deficit in ToM is still poorly understood. The underlying mechanisms for these ToM impairments and the precise role of ToM in the aetiology, diagnosis, and treatment of these mental disorders are also still largely unknown. ToM is clearly fundamental for any psychotherapeutic interactions and some existing treatment programs, such as mentalization-based therapy or metacognitive training, emphasize ToM. However, we still need to pinpoint the exact nature of ToM in clinical conditions, so we can provide a more coherent profile of ToM in different mental disorders. Moreover, further knowledge is also needed about ToM impairments in relation to alternative diagnostic systems such as the Research Domain Criteria, a research framework for new approaches to understanding and treating mental disorders.

Existing research has already shed some light on ToM in clinical conditions, but there are still many open questions and ongoing debates about the specific nature of ToM in mental disorders. This Research Topic aims to bring together new research on the nature of ToM in mental disorders. We are particularly interested in new and previously understudied disorders, for instance, complex posttraumatic stress disorder, and research that addresses ToM in the context of the Research Domain Criteria framework. We most welcome experimental research, clinical trials, and systematic reviews, but will also consider other types of articles, such as methods, reviews, and conceptual analysis articles.

We welcome submissions that address the following fields/topics:
• The role of ToM in the etiology of different mental disorders
• The role of ToM in the diagnosis of mental disorders
• The role of ToM in the treatment of mental disorders

Keywords: Theory of Mind, Mentalizing, Social Cognition, Cognitive Empathy, psychological disorders, mental disorders

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