Prediction of Schizophrenia Neuropsychological Characteristics Based on Social Cognition Aspects in a Non-Clinical Sample

The aim of the present study was to investigate the mutual relationship between characteristics of schizophrenia (Sc) with theory of mind and alexithymia, as social cognitive aspects, in a nonclinical group. The research method was descriptive-correlational design of regression prediction. To do so, 200 university students (100 males, 100 females) were selected by multistage cluster sampling from the two universities of Bonab city, East Azarbayjan province in Iran (Payame Noor and University of Bonab). Having any physical or psychoneurological chronic illnesses was the elimination criterion in the study. To collect data the 78-item scale of MMPI-2 for schizophrenia, Reading Mind from Eyes Test (RMET), and Alexithymia Questionnaire (FTAS-20) were used. Data were analyzed by Pearson's correlation test, linear regression analysis, and multiple simultaneus regression analysis. According to the results, the predictive role of theory of mind and alexithymia in characteristics of schizophrenia were confirmed. Separately, theory of mind explained 19% and alexithymia explained 57% of the variance of neuro-psychological characteristics of schizophrenia. Studying the combined contribution of theory of mind and alexithymia in schizophrenic characteristics indicated that, among the two variables, only the predictive variable affecting features of schizophrenia was alexithymia (with beta=0.58).