Adults with a history of childhood maltreatment with and without mental disorders show alterations in the recognition of facial expressions

Figures & data

Table 1. Sample characteristics.

	CM+ (n = 98)		CM− (n = 60)
	n	(%)	n	(%)	Group comparisons
Female gender	78	79.59	45	75.00	ns
Depressive disorder	14	14.29	0	.00	CM+ > CM−; χ^2 = Inf ^b
Anxiety disorders	39	39.80	10	16.67	CM+ > CM−; χ^2 = 10.77 ^b
Obsessive-compulsive disorder	4	4.08	2	3.33	ns
Post-traumatic stress disorder	8	8.16	0	.00	CM+ > CM−; OR = Inf ^c
Eating disorders	8	8.16	0	.00	CM+ > CM−; OR = Inf ^c
Personality disorders ^d	43	43.88	3	5.00	CM+ > CM−; χ^2 = 29.51^a
	M	SD	M	SD
Age (years)	27.71	9.93	24.65	5.74	ns
Educational group	2.31	.63	2.32	.50	ns
BDI ^e	10.35	10.10	3.78	3.33	CM+ > CM−; U = 4061.0 ^a
CTQ ^f physical neglect	9.14	3.46	5.22	.52	CM+ > CM−; U = 5244.5 ^a
CTQ emotional neglect	16.14	4.98	6.83	1.40	CM+ > CM−; U = 5643.0 ^a
CTQ physical abuse	9.12	5.45	5.05	.22	CM+ > CM−; U = 4518.0 ^a
CTQ emotional abuse	13.28	6.43	5.52	.87	CM+ > CM−; U = 5251.5 ^a
CTQ sexual abuse	9.18	6.79	5.00	.00	CM+ > CM−; U = 4110.0 ^a
PDS ^g	1.47	1.39	.97	1.06	CM+ > CM−; U = 3509.0 ^c

Note: For count data comparison chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test were used. Educational groups consisted of 4 levels: 1 = 11 years of education, 2 = 14–15 years of education, 3 = 19–22 years of education and 4 = 24–26 years of education. All p-values were computed two-sided. ns: non-significant, CM+: child maltreatment group, CM−: non child maltreatment group ^ap < .001, ^bp < .01, ^cp < .05, ^davoidant, dependent, obsessive-compulsive, paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal, histrionic, narcissistic, antisocial, borderline, depressive, negativistic personality disorder, ^eBeck Depression Inventory, ^fChildhood Trauma Questionnaire, ^gPost-Traumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale.

Figure 1. Barplots for emotion recognition rate (%) by condition and group.

Figure 2. Barplots of differences in mean of emotion recognition rate (%) by condition for CM+ and CM− with and without mental disorder.

Table

ER rates	N	M	SD	Median	Min	Max
happiness
CM−	60	80	13	80	40	100
CM+	98	78	16	80	35	100
pride
CM−	60	51	25	55	00	90
CM+	98	44	25	45	00	90
anger
CM−	60	75	16	80	25	100
CM+	98	71	17	75	10	95
contempt
CM−	60	41	21	40	00	85
CM+	98	38	22	40	00	85
disgust
CM−	60	58	19	58	15	95
CM+	98	52	23	58	00	100
embarrassment
CM−	60	64	15	65	25	90
CM+	98	63	16	65	05	95
fear
CM−	60	54	22	55	10	95
CM+	98	48	22	55	00	95
sadness
CM−	60	70	19	70	10	95
CM+	98	65	19	70	05	100
neutral
CM−	60	86	16	92	35	100
CM+	98	82	15	85	30	100

Note: Each emotion was shown n = 20 times. CM+: child maltreatment group; CM−: non child maltreatment group.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author, [MCP]. The data are not publicly available due to information that could compromise the privacy of research participants.