Relationships Between Theory of Mind (ToM) and Attachment Properties in Adolescent with Social Axiety Disorder

Abstract

Introduction: Studies have suggested that attachment styles are associated with social anxiety disorder (SAD). Recent studies found that individuals with a diagnosis of SAD were significantly impaired relative to healthy controls on tasks of theory of mind (ToM). We aimed to investigate the association of ToM and attachment styles in adolescents diagnosed with SAD in this study. Methods: Drug-naive 42 adolescents diagnosed with SAD and aged between 12 to 18, without psychiatric comorbidity were enrolled in the patient group. Forty-two adolescents in the same age range without any psychiatric disorders were matched as the healthy control group. The diagnosis was made by experienced clinicians using the Kiddie and Young Adult Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia Present and Lifetime Version and diagnostic criteria of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition. The severity of SAD symptoms was evaluated with the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents. ToM was evaluated with Reading the Mind in the Eyes task and faces test. Parent and Peer Attachment Inventory was used for assessing attachment properties. Results: Adolescents with SAD compared to healthy control groups have more difficulties both in Reading the Mind in the Eyes task and faces test. We found a statistically significant decrease in peer and parent attachment scores when compared with SAD and healthy controls (p<0.05). A negative correlation between the severity of SAD and both ToM tasks and attachment has been found. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that ToM deficits arid insecure attachment style may play an important role in the etiology and treatment of SAD in adolescents.