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Does emotional facial expression recognition and interpersonal problems differ among alcoholics in different abstinence stages?

¿El reconocimiento de la expresión facial emocional y los problemas interpersonales difieren entre los alcohólicos en diferentes etapas de abstinencia?

O reconhecimento de expressões faciais de emoção e os problemas interpessoais diferem entre alcoolistas em diferentes estágios de abstinência?

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Abstract

Emotional facial expression recognition (EFER) has been reported to be impaired in alcoholics. Interpersonal problems have also been reported as a major issue to this population. However, research with long-term abstinent alcoholics is scarce. We aimed at assessing the correlation between EFER, using computer-generated stimuli, and interpersonal problems using the interpersonal circumplex model, of alcoholics in different stages of abstinence. We assessed EFER skills, interpersonal problems, depression, and anxiety symptoms of alcoholics across three stages of abstinence, non-abstinent (N = 7), short-term abstinent (N = 7), and long-term abstinent (N = 11), and controls (N = 8). Non-abstinent alcoholics presented more interpersonal problems related to dominance than short-term abstinent and more depression than long-term abstinent and control group. However, there were no major differences on the EFER among groups. Results suggested that alcoholic interpersonal problems and EFER may function independently, that non-abstinent alcoholics have more problems than alcoholics in other stages of abstinence, and that interpersonal problems decrease with abstinence.

Resumen

Se ha informado que el reconocimiento de la expresión facial emocional (REFE) está deteriorado en alcohólicos. Los problemas interpersonales también se han informado como un problema importante para esta población. Sin embargo, la investigación con alcohólicos abstinentes a largo plazo es escasa. Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar la correlación entre REFE, usando estímulos generados por computadora y problemas interpersonales, usando el modelo circumplexo interpersonal, de alcohólicos en diferentes etapas de abstinencia. Evaluamos las habilidades de REFE, los problemas interpersonales, los síntomas de depresión y ansiedad de los alcohólicos en tres etapas de abstinencia, no abstinencia (N = 7), abstinencia a corto plazo (N = 7) y abstinencia a largo plazo (N = 11) y controles (N = 8). Los alcohólicos no abstinentes tenían más problemas interpersonales relacionados con el dominio que los abstinentes a corto plazo y más depresión que los abstinentes a largo plazo y los controles. Sin embargo, no hubo diferencias importantes en REFE entre los grupos. Los resultados sugirieron que los problemas interpersonales de los alcohólicos y REFE pueden funcionar de forma independiente, que los alcohólicos no abstinentes tienen más problemas que los alcohólicos en diferentes etapas de abstinencia y que los problemas interpersonales disminuyen con la abstinencia.

Resumo

O reconhecimento de expressões faciais de emoção (REFE) tem sido relatado como prejudicado em alcoolistas. Problemas interpessoais também têm sido relatados como um problema importante para essa população. No entanto, a pesquisa com alcoolistas abstinentes de longo prazo é escassa. Nosso objetivo foi avaliar a correlação entre a REFE, usando estímulos gerado por computador e problemas interpessoais, usando o modelo do circumplexo interpessoal, de alcoolistas em diferentes estágios de abstinência. Avaliamos habilidades de REFE, problemas interpessoais, sintomas de depressão e ansiedade de alcoolistas em três estágios de abstinência, não abstinentes (N = 7), abstinentes de curto prazo (N = 7) e abstinentes de longo prazo (N = 11) e controles (N = 8). Alcoolistas não abstinentes apresentaram mais problemas interpessoais relacionados à dominância que abstinentes de curto prazo e mais depressão que os abstinentes de longo prazo e controles. No entanto, não houve grandes diferenças no REFE entre os grupos. Os resultados sugeriram que os problemas interpessoais dos alcoolistas e REFE podem funcionar independentemente, que os alcoolistas não abstinentes têm mais problemas do que os alcoolistas em diferentes estágios de abstinência e que os problemas interpessoais diminuem com a abstinência.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their gratitude to Dra Maria da Penha Zago and to the community of Alcoholics Anonymous for allowing data collection with patients and members. We thank Karina Agnez Cordeiro, Lucas Bernardo Christ Machado, Naiara Tetzner Ramos, and Thays Machado da Cruz for their assistance with data collection.

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  1. Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada

    Vinícius Betzel Koehler

  2. Departamento de Psicologia Social E Do Desenvolvimento, UFES, Vitória, Brazil

    Rosana Suemi Tokumaru

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  1. Vinícius Betzel Koehler
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Correspondence to Vinícius Betzel Koehler.

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Koehler, V.B., Tokumaru, R.S. Does emotional facial expression recognition and interpersonal problems differ among alcoholics in different abstinence stages?. Trends in Psychol. 32, 43–60 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43076-022-00186-3

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