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. 2017 Jul;47(7):1927-1941.
doi: 10.1007/s10803-017-3080-x.

Measuring Theory of Mind in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Neil Brewer  1 , Robyn L Young  2 , Emily Barnett  2
Affiliations

Measuring Theory of Mind in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Neil Brewer et al. J Autism Dev Disord. 2017 Jul.

Erratum in

Abstract

Deficits in Theory of Mind (ToM)-the ability to interpret others' beliefs, intentions and emotions-undermine the ability of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to interact in socially normative ways. This study provides psychometric data for the Adult-Theory of Mind (A-ToM) measure using video-scenarios based in part on Happé's (Instructions for theory of mind story task, 1999) Strange Stories test. The final items discriminated IQ-matched adults with ASD from controls on the social but not the physical items. Additional validity data included a two-component principal components solution, correlations with existing ToM scales, and the absence of correlations with self-report measures of empathy and social anxiety (not requiring inferences about the intent of others). The expected group differences in ToM were accompanied by marked variability in the ASD sample.

Keywords: Adults; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Theory of Mind assessment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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