Abstract Aim and Background: Theory of mind is the ability to attribute one’s own or others mental states which has an important role in social and behavioral performances. The purpose of the present study was compare theory of mind in patients with schizophrenia and major depression with normal individuals. Methods and Materials: The present research was a causal- comparative study. The subjects include 25 patients with schizophrenia who are members of bojnurd’s home visit centers or camps of chronic psychiatric patients, 27 patients with major depression who attend bojnurd’s psychiatric clinics, and 30 normal employees of ashna dairy-product company of the city of bojnurd. They were selected by convenience sampling method and were studid in the period November to January 2012. Subjects were tested by SCID-I, revised form of WAIS-R, and reading the mind in Baron-Cohen eyes tests. Findings: The results from one-way ANCOVA analyses indicated that there is a meaningful difference in theory of mind among patients with schizophrenia, patients with major depression and normal individuals (P >0.001). Conclusions: The theory of mind deficit was found in patients with schizophrenia and major depression compared to normal ones. The deficit is more intensive in patients with schizophrenia rather than the ones with major depression. Also, results indicate that IQ is not an appropriate variable to explain the theory of mind deficit in patients with schizophrenia and major depression.
