The effects of the micro-expression training on empathy in patients with schizophrenia

Abstract

Object Studies have shown that patients with schizophrenia had impaired in empathy, which is important during social interaction. How to improve the empathy of schizophrenia patients was of practical significance. This study used Micro-expression training tool to improve the empathy in patients with schizophrenia. Methods Experimental group consisted of 24 patients (10 females), who accepted a completely micro-expression training for 4 times, once a week, each training last for 1–1.5 h, and the control group consisted of 22 patients (10 females), who merely watched the teaching videos about facial expression for 4 times, each time last for half an hour; and the third group, acted as a baseline, consisted of 22 patients (10 females), who were not given any intervention. The scores of empathy at pre-training and post-training were measured by Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). Results The empathy of experimental group and control group I had improved, which suggested the training of micro-expression recognition could improve empathy in patients with schizophrenia.