Evaluation of the theory of mind in autism spectrum disorders with the Strange Stories test Avaliação de teoria da mente nos transtornos do espectro do autismo com a aplicação do teste Strange Stories

1Fonoaudióloga, Mestre e Doutora em Distúrbios do Desenvolvimento, Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie; 2Psicóloga e Mestre em Distúrbios do Desenvolvimento, Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie; 3Médico Neuropediatra, Doutorado em Neurologia pela Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Professor titular do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Distúrbios do Desenvolvimento, Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie. Instituição: Clínica de Transtornos do Espectro do Autismo – TEA MACK, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Distúrbios do Desenvolvimento, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie. Correspondence: Renata de Lima Velloso; Rua Piaui 181 / Higienópolis; 01241-001 São Paulo SP Brasil; E-mail: [email protected] Conflict of interest: There is no conflict of interest to declare. Received 19 March 2013; Received in final form 06 June 2013; Accepted 13 June 2013. ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the theory of mind in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and control individuals by applying the Strange Stories test that was translated and adapted to the Portuguese language. Method: Twenty-eight children with ASD and 56 controls who were all male and aged between 6 and 12 years participated in the study. Results: There were significant differences between the median scores of the groups for each of the 12 stories of the test and for the sum total of all the median scores. The median scores for all stories were significantly greater in the control group than those in the experimental group (children with ASD). In addition, the protocol had excellent internal consistency. Conclusion: The theory of mind skills assessed with the Strange Stories test indicated alterations in children with ASD compared with children in the control group.