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<p>Objectives: This study was undertaken to compare subjects diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder</p><p>(ASPD) and healthy controls in terms of alexithymia, empathy and theory of mind.</p><p>Material and methods: A total of 43 patients diagnosed with ASPD and 43 healthy controls were included.</p><p>Study tools administered include the Sociodemographic Data Form, Barratt Impulsivity Scale - Version 11</p><p>(BIS-11), Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET), Empathy Quotient (EQ), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-</p><p>20) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).</p><p>Results: As compared to controls, patients had significantly lower RMET and total EQ scores (p<0.001) and</p><p>significantly higher BIS total and planning, motor and attention, TAS-20 total, identifying feelings, describing</p><p>feelings, and externally oriented thinking scores (p= 0.002; p=0.008; p <0.001; p<0.001; p<0.001; p<0.001;</p><p>p<0.001; and p=0.017, respectively). There was a positive significant correlation between RMET and EQ</p><p>scores (p=0.006, r=0.415), while EQ scores were negatively and significantly correlated with TAS-20 scores</p><p>(p=0.001, r= -0.487). There was a significant negative correlation between EQ and BIS-11 scores (p< 0.001, r=</p><p>-0.609), while a positive and significant correlation was identified between TAS-20 and BIS-11 scores</p><p>(p=0.012, r=0.379). Patients with self-mutilating behaviors had significantly lower total RMET scores than</p><p>patients without such behaviors (p=0.028).</p><p>Conclusion: In conclusion, ASPD patients experience difficulty in reading the mind in the eyes, exhibit less</p><p>empathy toward others, and have more pronounced alexithymia. Our observations suggest that ASPD</p><p>patients experience challenges in the theory of mind concepts as well as in understanding and identifying</p><p>the emotions of others and the self. We believe that comprehensive therapy programs specifically developed</p><p>for ASPD patients and encompassing both the theory of mind and emotional perception may assist in</p><p>improving these concepts that have significant roles in social interactions</p> |
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