Theory of Mind, Breast Cancer and Depression: Is Cancer Taking Over Your Social Cognition? A Comparative Study From Eastern India

Arunima Datta¹, Shrenik Ostwal^2* & Subpiramaniyam Sivakumar³

¹Senior Researcher, Dept. of Psychology, Apollo Clinic, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
²Consultant, Dept. of Pain and Palliative Medicine, Narayana Super Speciality Hospital, Howrah, West Bengal, India
³Associate Professor, Dept. of Bioenvironmental Energy, College of Natural Resource & Life Science, Pusan National University, Miryang-si, Republic of Korea, South Korea

Dr. Shrenik Ostwal, Consultant, Dept. of Pain and Palliative Medicine, Narayana Super Speciality Hospital, Howrah, West Bengal, India.

Keywords: Breast Cancer; Depression; Theory of Mind; Social Cognition

Abstract

Objectives
Theory of Mind (ToM) is the ability to attribute mental states to oneself, to others. Studies have established ToM deficits in patients with depression, autism, schizophrenia. But, no study so far has investigated the status of ToM in breast cancer patients who often suffer from depression. Hence we proposed a study to compare ToM deficits between women with breast cancer, with pure psychiatric depression (PPD) and healthy controls.

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