Affect recognition and self-esteem in schizophrenia

Abstract

Fifteen male schizophrenic patients between the ages of 18 and 40 were compared with 15 matched control subjects on their performance on the Facial Affect Recognition Task and on the O'Brien-Epstein Sources of Self-Esteem Inventory. As has been previously reported, schizophrenic subjects score significantly lower than normals in the recognition of emotion in the human face, particularly on the 'negative' emotions of anger, fear and disgust. Significant differences were found between groups on self-esteem domains of 'competence' and 'personal power', with normal subjects scoring higher. However, on the self-esteem scale of 'defensive self-enhancement', schizophrenic patients scored higher than the control group. Thus, the schizophrenic patients do not have uniformly lower self-esteem than normals but, rather, specific domains of self-esteem are affected. In addition, a significant negative correlation was found between affect recognition and defensive self-enhancement. The clinical-theoretical implications of working with schizophrenia are discussed in the light of these findings.