Emotional control in selected somatic and psychiatric diseases

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychosomatic Medicine
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Chronic somatic diseases, such as dermatological and gastrointestinal conditions, often coexist with emotional dysregulation.
• Understanding emotional control in somatic disorders is crucial for effective treatment and patient coping strategies.
• Emotional regulation plays a significant role in the onset, management, and progression of both somatic and mental health conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the subjective control of emotional states in patients with somatic diseases versus those with depressive and anxiety disorders.
• To analyze emotion regulation dimensions in these patient groups in relation to healthy individuals.
• To identify specific differences in emotional control strategies among the studied populations.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving 310 participants: 120 somatic disease patients (dermatological, gastrointestinal), 96 with depressive disorders, 30 with anxiety disorders, and 64 healthy controls.
• Utilized the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire by J. Brzeziński to assess psychological variables.
• Compiled and analyzed data from conducted studies.

Main Results:

• Patients with chronic somatic symptom disorders, depression, and anxiety disorders demonstrated significant differences in emotional control compared to healthy individuals.
• Statistically significant differences were observed between somatic disease patients and those with depression or anxiety across three dimensions of emotional control.
• Somatic disease patients exhibited higher emotional and rational motivation, alongside lower emotional resilience and arousal.

Conclusions:

• Chronic diseases are intrinsically linked to an individual's emotional well-being and daily functioning.
• Emotional control strategies are pivotal factors in disease onset, coping mechanisms, and treatment outcomes, irrespective of diagnosis (somatic or mental illness).
• The findings highlight the importance of addressing emotional regulation in the comprehensive care of patients with chronic somatic and mental health conditions.