TY - JOUR
AU - J. Hybelius
AU - Af Winklerfelt Hammarberg
AU - S. Salomonsson
AU - C. Wachtler
AU - M. Epstein
AU - A. Olsson
AU - E. Strand
AU - Söderström Winter
AU - Ahnlund Hoffmann
AU - E. Spansk
AU - T. Åkerlund
AU - D. Björkander
AU - A. Kosic
AU - G. Chahin
AU - J. Wallert
AU - E. Toth-Pal
AU - S. Nordin
AU - M. Witthöft
AU - E. Axelsson
A1 - 
AB - The importance of fear has been emphasized in research and treatment focusing on persistent physical symptoms (PPS). Recognizing a broader range of emotions may inform theory and personalized care. This study aimed to examine what basic emotions individuals with PPS experience related to their physical symptoms, the correlations between such emotions and overall somatic symptom burden and disability, and whether emotions change with treatment. Analyses drew on data from a randomized controlled trial that compared internet-delivered exposure therapy with healthy lifestyle promotion for patients with PPS (n = 159), supplemented by data from age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers (n = 160). Participants self-reported emotions related to their physical symptoms. Mean differences were evaluated within a linear regression modeling framework. Compared with the healthy volunteers, PPS participants scored significantly higher on anger, disgust, fear, sadness, and shame, and lower on joy. Disgust, fear, sadness, and shame correlated significantly with somatic symptom burden; anger, fear, sadness, and shame with disability. All negatively valenced emotions reduced significantly in both interventions, without significant between-group effects. Joy increased significantly in exposure. These results highlight the potential relevance of diverse emotions in PPS. To facilitate personalized care, future work could evaluate the unique contribution of specific emotions to clinical outcomes.
AD - Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden. jonna.hybelius@ki.se.; Liljeholmen University Primary Health Care Center, Academic Primary Health Care Center, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden. jonna.hybelius@ki.se.; Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.; Liljeholmen University Primary Health Care Center, Academic Primary Health Care Center, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden.; Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, & Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden.; Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.; Meliva Primary Health Care Center Kungshörnet, Uppsala, Sweden.; School of Law, Psychology and Social Work, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.; Department of Psychology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.; Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
AN - 41702998
BT - Sci Rep
C5 - Medically Unexplained Symptoms
CP - 1
DA - Feb 17
DO - 10.1038/s41598-026-39962-x
DP - NLM
ET - 20260217
IS - 1
JF - Sci Rep
LA - eng
N2 - The importance of fear has been emphasized in research and treatment focusing on persistent physical symptoms (PPS). Recognizing a broader range of emotions may inform theory and personalized care. This study aimed to examine what basic emotions individuals with PPS experience related to their physical symptoms, the correlations between such emotions and overall somatic symptom burden and disability, and whether emotions change with treatment. Analyses drew on data from a randomized controlled trial that compared internet-delivered exposure therapy with healthy lifestyle promotion for patients with PPS (n = 159), supplemented by data from age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers (n = 160). Participants self-reported emotions related to their physical symptoms. Mean differences were evaluated within a linear regression modeling framework. Compared with the healthy volunteers, PPS participants scored significantly higher on anger, disgust, fear, sadness, and shame, and lower on joy. Disgust, fear, sadness, and shame correlated significantly with somatic symptom burden; anger, fear, sadness, and shame with disability. All negatively valenced emotions reduced significantly in both interventions, without significant between-group effects. Joy increased significantly in exposure. These results highlight the potential relevance of diverse emotions in PPS. To facilitate personalized care, future work could evaluate the unique contribution of specific emotions to clinical outcomes.
PY - 2026
SN - 2045-2322
SP - 7170
ST - Basic emotions reported by individuals with persistent physical symptoms receiving exposure therapy versus healthy lifestyle promotion in primary care
T1 - Basic emotions reported by individuals with persistent physical symptoms receiving exposure therapy versus healthy lifestyle promotion in primary care
T2 - Sci Rep
TI - Basic emotions reported by individuals with persistent physical symptoms receiving exposure therapy versus healthy lifestyle promotion in primary care
U1 - Medically Unexplained Symptoms
U3 - 10.1038/s41598-026-39962-x
VL - 16
VO - 2045-2322
Y1 - 2026
ER -