The role of mind theory in patients affected by neurodegenerative disorders and impact on caregiver burden. (August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Formica, Caterina; Bonanno, Lilla; Todaro, Antonino; Marra, Angela; Alagna, Antonella; Corallo, Francesco; Marino, Silvia; Bramanti, Alessia; De Salvo, Simona
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical neuroscience. Volume 78(2020)
• Page Start: 291
• Page End: 295
• Publication Date: 2020-08
• Subjects: Theory of mind -- Caregiver -- Dementia -- Alzheimer disease -- Fronto-temporal dementia -- Mild cognitive impairment; Brain -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Neurosciences -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Brain -- surgery -- Periodicals; Neurosurgical Procedures -- Periodicals; Neurosciences -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2020.05.028
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0967-5868

Abstract

Highlights: ToM was more impaired in FTD patients and in their caregivers. FTD group showed more impaired performances in tasks related to emotional skills. ToM may be impaired in caregivers and have an impact on caregiver burden. Abstract: Background: Theory of Mind (ToM) is defined as the ability to understand mental and emotional state. This ability is assessed also in neurodegenerative disease. Few studies have investigated the impact that social cognition of patients could have on caregiver burden. The aim of this study was to investigate a possible correlation in level of social cognition impairment between patients with different neurodegenerative disorders and their caregivers with possible impact on caregivers burden. Methods: we enrolled 48 patients with dementia divided in different groups: Fronto-Temporal Dementia (FTD), Alzheimer Disease (AD), and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and also the three groups of their respective caregivers. All subjects were submitted to ToM tests, and the caregiver groups also to Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI) to evaluate level of burden. Results: Our results showed that ToM was more impaired in FTD patients and in their caregivers In addition, FTD group showed more impaired performances in tasks related to emotional skills. Conclusions: We suggested that ToM impairment of patients are related to ToM impairment of caregivers with differences of scores in caregiver groups. The caregiver difficulties to understand, attribute and describe emotional and mental states of their relatives develop distress and inability in burden management and disorders relative to neurodegenerative disease.