Abstract
Objectives
To compare self-reports of five basic emotions across four samples: healthy, chronic pain, depressed and PTSD, and to investigate the extent to which basic emotion reports discriminate between individuals in healthy or clinical groups.
Methods
In total, 439 participants took part in this study: healthy (N = 131), chronic pain
(N = 220), depressed (N = 24) and PTSD (N = 64). Participants completed the trait version of the Basic Emotion Scale (Dalgleish & Power, 2004). Basic emotion
profiles were compared both within each group and between the healthy group and each of the three other groups. Discriminant analysis was used to assess the extent to which basic emotions can be used to classify participants as belonging to the healthy group or one of the clinical groups.
Results
In the healthy group, happiness was experienced more than any other basic emotion. This was not found in the clinical groups. In comparison to healthy participants, the chronic pain group experienced more fear, anger and sadness; the depressed group reported more sadness; and the PTSD group experienced all of the negative emotions more frequently. Discriminant analysis revealed that happiness was the most important variable in determining whether an individual belonged to the healthy group or one of the clinical groups. Anger was found to further discriminate between depressed and chronic pain individuals.
Conclusion
The findings demonstrate that basic emotion profile analysis can provide a useful
foundation for the exploration of emotional experience both within and between healthy and clinical groups.
To compare self-reports of five basic emotions across four samples: healthy, chronic pain, depressed and PTSD, and to investigate the extent to which basic emotion reports discriminate between individuals in healthy or clinical groups.
Methods
In total, 439 participants took part in this study: healthy (N = 131), chronic pain
(N = 220), depressed (N = 24) and PTSD (N = 64). Participants completed the trait version of the Basic Emotion Scale (Dalgleish & Power, 2004). Basic emotion
profiles were compared both within each group and between the healthy group and each of the three other groups. Discriminant analysis was used to assess the extent to which basic emotions can be used to classify participants as belonging to the healthy group or one of the clinical groups.
Results
In the healthy group, happiness was experienced more than any other basic emotion. This was not found in the clinical groups. In comparison to healthy participants, the chronic pain group experienced more fear, anger and sadness; the depressed group reported more sadness; and the PTSD group experienced all of the negative emotions more frequently. Discriminant analysis revealed that happiness was the most important variable in determining whether an individual belonged to the healthy group or one of the clinical groups. Anger was found to further discriminate between depressed and chronic pain individuals.
Conclusion
The findings demonstrate that basic emotion profile analysis can provide a useful
foundation for the exploration of emotional experience both within and between healthy and clinical groups.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 14-24 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy |
| Volume | 19 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Early online date | 17 Jan 2011 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 17 Jan 2011 |
Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)
- Basic Emotions, Chronic Pain, Depression, PTSD, Discriminant Function Analysis