Correlation between facial expression recognition ability and social anxiety/fear of negative evaluation in patients with social anxiety disorder

Objective To analyze the facial expression recognition ability of patients with social anxiety disorder and the correlation among social anxiety,fear of negative evaluation and facial expression recognition ability. Methods Thirty cases of social anxiety disorder and 30 normal persons were measured with the Social anxiety Scale,Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale and Facial Expression Recognition Test.The results were compared by independent Samples t-Test and their relationship by Pearson’s correlation. Results There was no significant difference between the two groups on the correct numbers of facial expression recognition(P>0.05),but the reaction time of social phobia was shorter than that of the normal on the task(P<0.05);there was no significant difference between the two groups on the correct numbers of the same facial type expression recognition(P>0.05);there were more correct numbers on the “happy” facial type than other types in both groups(P<0.05);There was no significant correlation between social anxiety and facial expression recognition ability(r=0.24,P=0.32);there was no significant correlation between the fear of negative evaluation and facial expression recognition ability(r=-0.10,P=0.68),but social anxiety and fear of negative evaluation was significant related(r=0.59,P<0.05). Conclusion There is no significant decline in facial expression recognition ability of social phobias;there is no significant correlation among social anxiety,fear of negative evaluation and facial expression recognition ability.