Abstract

Knowledge on whether measures of ToM can be used and compared across cultures is sparse. In this study we used two simple, visual, non-verbal ToM tests in patients with schizophrenia and non-clinical controls from China and Denmark to investigate whether culture has an impact on ToM performance. Patients with schizophrenia and matched non-clinical controls from China and Denmark were tested with Brüne´s Picture Sequencing Task and the Animated Triangles Task. We compared three models for each outcome variable in order to investigate which model best fitted the data: the first model included group (controls, patients) as predictor variable, the second included group and nationality (Chinese, Danish), and the third included both predictors and their interaction. On most ToM subtests, culture seemed to play a role. Only performance on Brüne’s 1^st order ToM were best described as similar in both countries. The second model had the best fit for most of the subtests indicating that the difference between patients and controls in China and Denmark, respectively, is similar.

Caution to cultural differences should be taken when comparing ToM in Asian and Western patients with schizophrenia as well as healthy individuals.

The Danish part of the project was funded with ‘Seed Money’ from Interacting Minds Center and the Carlsberg Foundation.  

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Contact

Vibeke Bliksted, Associate Professor
Department of Clinical Medicine - Psychosis Research Unit and IMC
Aarhus University