Assessing embodied interpersonal emotion regulation in somatic symptom disorders: a case study

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Psychophysiology

Background:

• Somatic symptom disorders (SSD) are associated with complex emotional regulation deficits.
• Understanding the interpersonal dynamics of emotion regulation in SSD is crucial for therapeutic interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the intra- and interpersonal emotion regulation in patients with SSD during interactions with romantic partners.
• To compare emotion regulation patterns between a couple with an SSD patient and a healthy couple.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an interpersonal experiment with baseline, anger, and relaxation tasks.
• Simultaneously measured physiological indicators (cutaneous facial temperature, heart rate, skin conductance).
• Assessed trait-emotion regulation, state-affect, and attachment styles.

Main Results:

• Emotion regulation difficulties correlated with increased physiological responses (temperature).
• SSD patients displayed restricted emotional awareness despite heightened autonomic activity.
• Couples with an SSD patient showed poorer mutual emotional understanding compared to healthy controls.

Conclusions:

• Findings support an embodied interpersonal approach for studying SSD.
• Emotion regulation and attachment styles play a significant role in the interpersonal functioning of individuals with SSD.