Impaired emotion processing and a reduction in trust in patients with somatic symptom disorder

Abstract

There is accumulating evidence for deficits in the perception and regulation of one's own emotions, as well as the recognition of others' emotions in somatic symptom disorder (SSD). However, investigations of SSD focusing on specific aspects of emotion processing and how these might interact are missing. We included 35 patients with SSD and 35 healthy controls who completed questionnaires on the perception and regulation of their own emotions, as well as experimental investigations of emotion recognition and trust. In line with previous studies, our results show that SSD patients in comparison to healthy controls have difficulties in the identification and description of own feelings (η = .381 and η = .315). Furthermore, we found that patients apply less cognitive reappraisal (η = .185) but tend to use more expressive suppression (η = .047). In contrast to previous studies, we found SSD patients to perform superior in emotion recognition, in particular for anger (d = 0.40). In addition, patients with SSD invested less in a trust game (d = 0.73). These results point to a higher sensitivity for negative emotions and less trust in others. Further, these findings suggest a dissociation between the ability to recognize one's own emotions versus others' emotions in SSD. Future interventions targeting emotion processing in SSD might focus on the identification of one's own emotions, prior to the training of emotion regulation.

Investigation of the relationship between alexithymia and eating attitude, self-esteem and anger in women who applied to psychological counseling center

“…Our unexpressed feelings find a way to express themselves in a way. One of the most concrete signs of this is somatic complaints [47]. Another finding in our study is consistent with studies in the literature related to alexithymia and somatic complaints.…”

Early maladaptive schemas in patients with somatoform disorders and somatization

“…Difficulties with identifying one's own feelings, known as alexithymia, are well studied within somatoform patients (Erkic et al, 2017). The lack of specific vulnerability factors in the form of schemas might also be due to shared aetiological factors of somatoform, anxiety, and depressive disorders.…”

“…Rief, Ihle, and Pilger (2003) described typical illness behaviour for patients with somatoform disorders, for example, a high number of medical consultations in order to verify a diagnosis, social withdrawal, and taking unnecessary medication. Furthermore, a number of studies have investigated emotional processing abilities in somatoform patients and found that alexithymia is higher in somatoform disorders than in healthy controls (Bankier, Aigner, & Bach, 2001;Erkic et al, 2017;Pedrosa Gil et al, 2009;Waller & Scheidt, 2004). Furthermore, a number of studies have investigated emotional processing abilities in somatoform patients and found that alexithymia is higher in somatoform disorders than in healthy controls (Bankier, Aigner, & Bach, 2001;Erkic et al, 2017;Pedrosa Gil et al, 2009;Waller & Scheidt, 2004).…”

“…There is also evidence for typical cognitions in somatoform patients like more organically oriented causal attributions of common somatic sensations (Rief, Nanke, Emmerich, Bender, & Zech, 2004), a selective focus of attention on physiological processes (Rief & Hiller, 1998), and a tendency to catastrophize physical sensations . Furthermore, a number of studies have investigated emotional processing abilities in somatoform patients and found that alexithymia is higher in somatoform disorders than in healthy controls (Bankier, Aigner, & Bach, 2001;Erkic et al, 2017;Pedrosa Gil et al, 2009;Waller & Scheidt, 2004). Specifically, somatoform patients have difficulties in identifying their own feelings.…”

Interaction structures in the psychodynamic psychotherapy of a patient with chronic diseases and somatic symptoms

“…Affect avoidance and difficulty in acknowledging and expressing negative affects are shared characteristics of patients with cluster C personality disorders (or traits of them) and those with somatic symptom disorder, both of which are important aspects observed in Doris. 27 In IS 1 In summary, this study concludes that ISs, which can be empirically observed using the PQS, make up the psychotherapeutic process. In this case, the best model identified was a composite of four factors, some of which were similar to those in other studies (interactions regarding the therapeutic alliance are quite common), whereas others were probably unique to the process here described.…”