Empathy in schizophrenia: A meta-analysis of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. (March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bonfils, Kelsey A.; Lysaker, Paul H.; Minor, Kyle S.; Salyers, Michelle P.
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 249(2017)
• Page Start: 293
• Page End: 303
• Publication Date: 2017-03
• Subjects: Social cognition -- Duration of illness -- Perspective-taking -- Fantasy -- Personal distress; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.12.033
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Abstract: Empathy is a complex construct, thought to contain multiple components. One popular measurement paradigm, the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), has been used extensively to measure empathic tendencies in schizophrenia research across four domains: empathic concern, perspective-taking, personal distress, and fantasy. However, no recent meta-analysis has been conducted for all four factors of this scale. The goal of this meta-analysis was to examine self-reported empathic tendencies for each factor of the IRI in people with schizophrenia as compared to healthy controls. A literature search revealed 32 eligible schizophrenia studies. The Hedges' g standardized difference effect size was calculated for each component using a random effects meta-analytic model. Compared to healthy controls, schizophrenia samples reported significantly reduced tendencies for empathic concern, perspective-taking, and fantasy, but significantly greater tendencies for personal distress. Duration of illness significantly moderated the results for perspective-taking such that those with a longer duration exhibited greater deficits; percent female significantly moderated the results for personal distress such that samples with more females exhibited reduced effect sizes. Future work is needed to examine the impact of heightened personal distress on the empathic tendencies and abilities of those with schizophrenia, including the possible role of emotion regulation. Highlights: Deficits in the Interpersonal Reactivity Index subscales were meta-analyzed. People with schizophrenia were compared to healthy controls. Deficits found for empathic concern, perspective-taking, and fantasy. Schizophrenia group had heightened personal distress. Duration of illness and percent female were significant moderators for some scales.