Alexithymia and facial emotion recognition in patients with craniofacial pain and association of alexithymia with anxiety and depression: a systematic review with meta-analysis

PeerJ

article

Roy La Touche¹  Alberto García-Salgado³  Ferran Cuenca-Martínez¹  Santiago Angulo-Díaz-Parreño¹  Alba Paris-Alemany¹  Luis Suso-Martí¹  Aida Herranz-Gómez¹ 

[1] Motion in Brains Research Group, Institute of Neuroscience and Sciences of the Movement ,(INCIMOV), Centro Superior de Estudios Universitarios La Salle, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid;Instituto de Dolor Craneofacial y Neuromusculoesquelético;Departamento de Fisioterapia, Centro Superior de Estudios Universitarios La Salle, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid;Facultad de Medicina, Universidad CEU San Pablo;Departamento de Fisioterapia, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, CEU Universities

关键词: Alexithymia;    Craniofacial pain;    Facial emotion recognition;    Temporomandibular disorders;    Depression;    Anxiety;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.12545

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

Background We aimed to determine the presence of alexithymia in patients with craniofacial pain (CFP) compared with asymptomatic individuals. Our secondary aims were to assess the relationship of alexithymia with anxiety and depression levels, as well as to assess the presence of facial emotion recognition deficit. Methods Medline, Scielo and Google Scholar were searched, with the last search performed in 8 September 2021. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% CIs were calculated for relevant outcomes and were pooled in a meta-analysis using the random effects model. In addition, meta-analyses of correlations and a meta-regression of alexithymia with depression and anxiety were performed. Results Regarding alexithymia, assessed through the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS), the results showed significant differences, with higher values in patients compared with asymptomatic individuals, with a large clinical effect (SMD 0.46; 95% CI [0.22–0.71]; heterogeneity-Q 66.86; p < 0.001; inconsistency (I2) = 81%). We found statistically significant correlations with a small clinical effect of alexithymia with anxiety and depression. The meta-regression showed no significant association between the TAS and anxiety or depression. With respect to facial emotion recognition, the results showed statistically significant differences, with greater recognition difficulty in patients compared with asymptomatic individuals, with a large clinical effect (SMD −1.17; 95% CI [−2.01 to −0.33]; heterogeneity-Q 2.97; p = 0.080; I2 = 66%). Conclusions Patients with CFP showed alexithymia with moderate evidence. There was also moderate evidence indicating that these patients had significant deficits in facial emotion recognition compared with asymptomatic individuals. Furthermore, alexithymia showed statistically significant correlations with anxiety and depression levels.

【 授权许可】

CC BY