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Social cognitive deficits and biases in maltreated adolescents in UK out-of-home care: Relation to disinhibited attachment disorder and psychopathology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 April 2015

Catherine L. Kay  and
Jonathan M. Green
Catherine L. Kay*
Affiliation:
University of Manchester
Jonathan M. Green
Affiliation:
University of Manchester
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Catherine Kay, Institute of Brain, Behaviour and Mental Health, Room 3.316, Jean McFarlane Building, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, England; E-mail: Catherine.kay@manchester.ac.uk
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Abstract

Children entering out-of-home (OoH) care have often experienced multiple forms of maltreatment and are at risk of psychiatric disorder and poor long-term outcome. Recent evidence shows high rates of disinhibited attachment disorder (DAD) among maltreated adolescents in UK OoH care (Kay & Green, 2013). This study aimed to further understand the mechanisms of outcome in this group through investigation of social cognitive functioning. Patterns of theory of mind (ToM) and social information processing were assessed alongside DAD behavior and psychopathology in 63 adolescents in UK OoH care (mean age = 176 months, SD = 22; 48% male; 89% White British) and 69 low-risk comparison adolescents (mean age = 171 months, SD = 17; 46% male; 87% White British). Compared to low risk, OoH adolescents showed a hostile attribution bias and ToM deficit, but this was confounded by language ability. ToM was associated with reduced hostile attribution and responding biases and increased social competence, which was further associated with lower levels of externalizing psychopathology. There was no association between social cognition and core features of DAD. Social cognitive deficits and biases may play a role in the high rates of externalizing psychopathology and relationship functioning difficulties in maltreated samples. Future research should assess alternative cognitive mechanisms for DAD.

Type
Regular Articles
Information
Development and Psychopathology , Volume 28 , Issue 1 , February 2016 , pp. 73 - 83
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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