BACKGROUND: Patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) show an impairment in the recognition and expression of emotions, as well as an increased sensitivity to being socially excluded, and rigid maladaptive schemas. The Cyberball paradigm is a virtual ball-toss game that can simulate social exclusion and inclusion. Our aim is to evaluate how cognitive schemas can influence the perception and the evaluation of the experiences of social inclusion/exclusion. METHODS: Thirty-two AN patients and 34 healthy controls completed a psychological evaluation and were randomly assigned to exclusion or overinclusion paradigm of the Cyberball task. RESULTS: Patients with AN showed a significantly higher level of maladaptive schemas as well as higher sensitivity to being ostracized by peers in comparison with healthy controls. Regression analyses identified specific significant relation between being ostracized and dependence/incompetence, negativity/pessimism, and self-sacrifice. DISCUSSION: Our findings provide evidence that patients with AN may be ineffective in expressing their mood in exclusive and overinclusive social situations. Specific cognitive/temperamental schemas might play a role in the way people communicate their feelings, and they could be considered targets for psychotherapy interventions to improve social interpretation and emotional recognition/communication.
BACKGROUND:Patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) show an impairment in the recognition and expression of emotions, as well as an increased sensitivity to being socially excluded, and rigid maladaptive schemas. The Cyberball paradigm is a virtual ball-toss game that can simulate social exclusion and inclusion. Our aim is to evaluate how cognitive schemas can influence the perception and the evaluation of the experiences of social inclusion/exclusion. METHODS: Thirty-two AN patients and 34 healthy controls completed a psychological evaluation and were randomly assigned to exclusion or overinclusion paradigm of the Cyberball task. RESULTS:Patients with AN showed a significantly higher level of maladaptive schemas as well as higher sensitivity to being ostracized by peers in comparison with healthy controls. Regression analyses identified specific significant relation between being ostracized and dependence/incompetence, negativity/pessimism, and self-sacrifice. DISCUSSION: Our findings provide evidence that patients with AN may be ineffective in expressing their mood in exclusive and overinclusive social situations. Specific cognitive/temperamental schemas might play a role in the way people communicate their feelings, and they could be considered targets for psychotherapy interventions to improve social interpretation and emotional recognition/communication.
Authors: Paolo Meneguzzo; Chiara Cazzola; Roberta Castegnaro; Francesca Buscaglia; Enrica Bucci; Anna Pillan; Alice Garolla; Elisa Bonello; Patrizia Todisco Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2021-03-31
Authors: Paolo Meneguzzo; Patrizia Todisco; Enrico Collantoni; Valentina Meregalli; David Dal Brun; Elena Tenconi; Angela Favaro Journal: J Clin Med Date: 2021-12-15 Impact factor: 4.241
Authors: Paolo Meneguzzo; Patrizia Todisco; Sofia Calonaci; Cecilia Mancini; David Dal Brun; Enrico Collantoni; Lorenzo Maria Donini; Elena Tenconi; Angela Favaro Journal: Eat Weight Disord Date: 2020-12-14 Impact factor: 4.652