Investigation of facial emotion recognition, alexithymia, and levels of anxiety and depression in patients with somatic symptoms and related disorders

Figures & data

Table 1 Comparison of demographic characteristics and scores of BDI, BAI, TAS1, TAS2, and TAS3 between groups

	SSD (n=54)	HC (n=46)	Statistic
Age (years)	38.37±10.45	37.17± 10.68	t=0.56, P=0.57
Sex, n (%)
Female	41 (75.9)	36 (78.3)	χ^2=0.76, P=0.48
Male	13 (24.1)	10 (21.7)
Marital status, n (%)
Single	15 (20.4)	14 (30.4)	χ^2=0.52, P=0.44
Married	39 (72.2)	32 (69.6)
Educational status, n (%)
Primary	34 (46)	25 (38.9)	χ^2=0.56, P=0.45
College	8 (28.6)	9 (35.2)
University	12 (25.4)	12 (25.9)
BDI	19	5	Z=−6.30, P<0.001*
BAI	23	4.5	Z=−7.16, P<0.001*
TAS1	20.5	10	Z=−3.36, P<0.001*
TAS2	14	11.5	Z=−3.36, P<0.001*
TAS3	21	20	Z=−1.74, P=0.08*

Notes: Statistically significant values are presented in bold characters.

* Mann–Whitney U-test. The numeric data were compared between groups with student’s t-test, and if appropriate, the Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Walls tests were used. Bold values represent those that are statistically significantly different from the other values. TAS 1–3 are represented as follows; TAS1, difficulties in identifying feelings; TAS2, difficulties in describing feelings and TAS3, externally oriented thinking.

Abbreviations: BDI, Beck Depression inventory; BAI, Beck Anxiety Inventory; TAS, Toronto Alexithymia Scale; SSD, somatic symptoms and related disorders; HC, healthy controls.

Table 2 Comparison of responses to each facial emotion between groups

	Happy	Sad	Fear	Disgust	Angry	Surprised	Neutral
SSD (n=54)	6.83±0.54	5.16± 1.30	3.18±0.69*	4.84±1.51	5.87± 1.15	5.29± 1.32	5.70±1.88*
HC (n=46)	6.85±0.51	5.45± 1.37	4.13±1.55	5.63±1.06	6.02±0.97	5.95± 1.09	6.47±0.86

Notes:

* P<0.05. The numeric data were compared between groups with student’s t-test, and if appropriate, the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Walls tests were used. Bold values represent those that are statistically significantly different from the other values. The mean scores for responses to facial emotions for fear faces (t=−2.88, P=0.005), disgust faces (t=−2.86, P=0.005) and neutral faces (t=−2.56, P=0.009) were significantly lower in the patient group. The data are represented as mean ± SD.

Abbreviations: SSD, somatic symptoms and related disorder; HC, healthy controls.

Table 3 Comparison of mean reaction time to facial emotions between groups

	Happy	Sad	Fear	Disgust	Angry	Surprised	Neutral
SSD (n=54)a	3.14±1.30	6.36±1.30	6.80±2.61	7.08±2.01	6.35±2.75	5.49±3.12	4.88±2.15
HC (n=46)a	2.91 ± 1.64	6.05±1.33	7.43±2.74	5.83±3.45	7.23±2.75	5.60±3.98	4.61 ±2.78

Notes:

a Milliseconds. Data are represented as mean ± SD.

Abbreviations: SSD, somatic symptoms and related disorder; HC, healthy controls.