Abstract
Objective To investigate the capability of empathy to pain under the explicit and implicit task in the depressed patients. Methods 37 patients with depression and 36 healthy controls matched for age, gender and education were recruited. Empathy to pain paradigm was used. Chinese Version of Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI-C) was used to measure empathy. Results (1)Patients showed lower scores in factors of perspective taking ((9.0±4.2) vs. (11.2±4.4)), fantasy ((12.9±4.6) vs. (15.7±3.8)) (t=-2.3, P 0.05) by the one-way ANOVA.(3)In reaction time, repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVAs) showed a significant effect for task(F(1, 71)=65.56, P 0.05). Conclusion Depressed patients may have a declined capability of empathy toward other people's pain. Key words: Depressive disorder; Pain; Empathy
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