Theory of mind training and its effects on executive functions: Double-blind, randomized, controlled trials in the adults with mild intellectual disabilities

This study provided a theoretical basis for improving the executive functions of adults with mild intellectual disabilities with theory of mind training. It was a multicenter, double-blind, sham-controlled, randomized trial. The study sample comprised 48 adults (26 men and 22 women) with an average age of 40.43 (40.43 ± 3.32) years with intellectual disability who were attending supported employment or day centers of a disability service organization. The Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale (BDEFS) was used to collect data. The data was investigated using visual and analytical methods to determine the normal distribution. Quantitative data are described as mean ± standard deviation (X ± SD). The changes after the interventions were analyzed by Wilcoxon sign ranked test, and the differences between the intervention and control group were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney U-test. The results indicate that theory of mind training was effective on self-management, time, self-organization/problem solving, self-restraint, self-motivation, and self-regulation of emotion of the adults with mild intellectual disabilities.