Can childhood trauma influence facial emotion recognition independently from a diagnosis of severe mental disorder?

INTRODUCTIONFacial emotion recognition (FER) is a fundamental component in social interaction. We know that FER is disturbed in patients with severe mental disorder (SMD), as well as those with a history of childhood trauma. MATERIAL AND METHODSWe intend to analyze the possible relationship between...

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Published in:Revista de psiquiatria y salud mental (English ed.) 2020-07, Vol.13 (3), p.140-149
Main Authors: Catalan, Ana, Díaz, Aida, Angosto, Virxinia, Zamalloa, Iker, Martínez, Nuria, Guede, David, Aguirregomoscorta, Fernando, Bustamante, Sonia, Larrañaga, Lorea, Osa, Luis, Maruottolo, Claudio, Fernández-Rivas, Arantza, Bilbao, Amaia, Gonzalez-Torres, Miguel Angel
Format: Article
Language:eng ; spa
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Summary:INTRODUCTIONFacial emotion recognition (FER) is a fundamental component in social interaction. We know that FER is disturbed in patients with severe mental disorder (SMD), as well as those with a history of childhood trauma. MATERIAL AND METHODSWe intend to analyze the possible relationship between the existence of trauma in childhood irrespective of a SMD, measured by the CTQ scale and facial expression recognition, in a sample of three types of subjects (n=321): healthy controls (n=179), patients with BPD (n=69) and patients with a first psychotic episode (n=73). Likewise, clinical and socio-demographic data were collected. The relationship was analyzed by a technique of multivariate regression adjusting for sex, age, IQ, current consumption of drugs and group to which the subject belonged. RESULTSSexual and/or physical trauma in childhood related independently to the existence of SMD with a worse total FER ratio, as well as to a worse rate of recognition in expressions of happiness. Furthermore, the subjects with a history of childhood trauma attributed expressions of anger and fear more frequently to neutral and happy faces, irrespective of other variables. CONCLUSIONSThe existence of trauma in childhood seems to influence the ability of subjects to recognize facial expressions, irrespective of SMD. Trauma is a preventable factor with specific treatment; therefore, attention should be paid to the existence of this background in clinical populations.
ISSN:2173-5050
DOI:10.1016/j.rpsm.2018.10.003