Study of Social Cognition Impairment among Opiate Dependents

Social cognition is composed of variety of processes that result in perception of self, others and social world. Theory of Mind (ToM) is the high level processing and analysis that organizes social cognition data by reflecting and projecting other mind states in self mind environment. Impairment in social cognition and ToM is one of the suspected problems of substance abusers, and play role in addictive behavior especially in social relations. In this study we tried to evaluate some aspects of ToM and Social Cognition among opiate addicts in comparison to normal group. We used Persian computerized version of Eyes Task (ET) and Facial Emotional Expression Recognition Task (FERT), over 52 normal person and 50 opiate addicts referred to Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies (INCAS).We also use Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), Raven Progressive Matrices (RPM), Eysenck Impulsivity Questionnaire -7 (EIQ-7) and Addiction Severity Index (ASI). We found that there is a significant difference in mean score of ET task and FERT between groups (p<0.01). Also there is significant difference in mean scores of RPM, BDI, and Impulsivity subscale of EIQ between groups. Using multivariate analysis for ET & FERT scores including all possible related variables revealed that there is significant effect for Addiction (group) and RPM (Intelligence quotient) score on ET score, and Addiction & Empathy on FERT score. In this study opiate abusers showed significant impairment in some aspects of social cognition in relation to normal group with fixation and matching of other related variables. Results of this study should be concluded with respect to other cognitive deficits correlated to opiate abuse and brain areas involved coordinately in response inhibition, risky decision making, emotional processing and social cognition. Basic and clinical implication of "impaired social cognition" should be considered in therapeutic interventions for opiate dependents.