Semester

Fall

Date of Graduation

2011

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

PhD

College

Eberly College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Committee Chair

Daniel W McNeil

Abstract

This study developed and tested the Emotional Pain Interview (EPI), a semi-structured interview measuring emotional pain, using community dwelling adults with a significant history of emotional pain (n = 16; emotional pain group) relative to matched controls reporting a prior significant positive life experience (n = 16; positive life experience group). The EPI and a matching positive life event interview were used to assess all participants regarding prior emotionally painful and positive life experiences. Participants completed measures of anxiety sensitivity, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Ratings of emotional responding (i.e., Valence, Arousal, and Control/Dominance) were made for prior emotionally painful and positive life experiences by each participant and two researchers. The emotional pain group had significantly higher PTSD and depression scores than the positive life event group. Ratings of Valence and Control/Dominance differed for both participants and researchers across type of interview. Ratings did not differ, however, between groups for participants' or researchers' ratings of Valence, Arousal, or Control/Dominance. The EPI appears to have utility in the measurement of emotional pain, although it likely would benefit from additional refinement.

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