Social Cognition in Multiple Sclerosis: An Empirical Investigation

Despite extensive research on cognitive functioning in Multiple Sclerosis, there is a significant gap in understanding social cognitive deficits experienced by people with MS, particularly those with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. Thirty RRMS and thirty healthy control (HC) participants were recruited and underwent several neuropsychological tests to assess Social Cognition. In order to test the affective component of Theory of Mind (ToM), the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) was applied, while to assess the cognitive component of ToM, the short version of the Faux-Pas Recognition Test (FPRT) was administered. For assessing Emotion Recognition, the Facial Emotion Identification (FEI) and Facial Emotion Discrimination (FED) tests were used. The RRMS group scored significantly lower in both ToM and Emotion Recognition Tests compared to the HCs, whereas performance for the two groups did not differ in the FED test. In addition, regression analyses revealed that only the FED test showed significant negative linear relationship with both EDSS and Disease Duration (in years). Finally, the RRMS group scored significantly lower in recognizing negative emotions of the FEI test compared to the HC group, while no significant difference was found in recognizing positive emotions between the two groups.