Background & development of the Emotional Processing Scale (EPS)

In research studies and clinical work with panic disorder patients (Baker, 1986, 1989, 1995) Baker noted some unusual features in the way in which panic patients coped with emotional situations such as fear and dislike of emotions, failure to link emotions correctly to precipitating events and generally an impoverished understanding of emotional life. Along with colleagues he conducted a cross-sectional study to explore whether panic patients did exhibit more emotional processing difficulties than healthy controls. However, at the time a specific instrument assessing emotional processing was not available and thus a validated measure of emotional control was used as it closely related to some aspects of emotional processing (Courtauld Emotional Control Scale, Watson & Greer, 1983). Twelve additional items were devised by Baker to tap into other emotional processing domains suggested by the emotional processing model. These related to the awareness and labelling of emotional feelings and constructs about having and expressing positive and negative emotions. This study is currently in press in Behaviour Research and Therapy (Baker, Holloway, Thomas, & Thomas, 2003).

During the process of this research it became clear that panic patients were not the only patient group who had emotional processing difficulties and indeed in healthy individuals different styles of processing were apparent. This led to the development of an emotional processing model with much broader application to different patient and non-patient groups. It specified some of the psychological operations underpinning emotional processing; in particular, processes impeding successful processing (Baker, 2001).

A growing awareness of the importance of emotional processing to clinical work and research, the lack of existing psychometric scales that tapped into emotional processing dimensions led Baker to develop an Emotional Processing Scale (EPS). The aims of such a scale were to:

Identify and quantify different types of emotional processing styles and deficits.

Provide a conceptual framework to categorise or group patients for therapy or research.

Predict treatment response

Assess the contribution of poor emotional processing to the development of physical and psychological disorders.

Measure changes in emotional processing as a result of therapy or interventions for physical or psychological disorders.

Provide a questionnaire-based research tool for experimental paradigms exploring emotion.

Assist therapists in incorporating an emotional component into their formulations of therapy.

Creation of an initial item pool

The first step in the development of an assessment scale was to compile an item pool. One of the aims in developing the Emotional Processing Scale was to produce a measure of emotional processing that would be relevant to researchers and clinicians alike. It was intended to be applicable to a wide target population including non patient individuals and those with both physical and mental health disorders. The item pool was informed by

data from experimental studies undertaken by Watson and Pettingale that compared patients with anxiety disorder, breast cancer and normal controls.

research interviews undertaken with normal individuals exploring their experiences of negative and positive emotional events (Todres & Baker, 2000).

clinical consultations with patients with a range of psychological disorders

the general literature on emotions, in particular, drawing upon aspects of behaviour therapy (Marks, Rachman), cognitive therapy (Salkovoskis), psychotherapy (Freud), counselling (Rogers), cognitive appraisal (Kelly, Lazarus), experiential psychology (Gendlin), psychological medicine (Pennebaker) and the interactive nature of cognition and emotion (Power and Dalgleish).

From 1988-2000 a pool of 302 items was created. Subsequently 136 items were selected for use in the pre-pilot version of the scale. These were chosen on the basis of the six processes specified in the emotional processing model. An attempt was made to encompass as many aspects of each process as possible. The following main categories were included: experience of emotions, understanding of emotions, reactions to situations, coping mechanisms and behavioural reactions.

Pre-piloting

The 136 item version of the scale was given to clinical and research colleagues and friends and family members. The rationale of the project was explained to them and suggestions and comments were encouraged. After minor changes to wording and layout the length of the questionnaire was reduced to 109 items for the pilot version of the scale.

Piloting and item selection for the working version

The pilot version of the scale was administered to three groups of individuals that were expected to vary in their emotional processing abilities. These included individuals with a variety of psychological problems referred to a counsellor or psychologist (n=37), individuals waiting in a GP surgery (n=53) and non patients (n=60).

Item selection was based on:

An even score distribution

Significant t-tests between patient and non patient groups

Results from a preliminary factor analysis in which all participants were grouped together (n= 150)

Not applicable’ category infrequently used

Possessing few missing data

Based on these criteria 45 items were selected for the initial psychometric evaluation phase.

"Each venture is a new beginning, a raid on the inarticulate with shabby equipment always deteriorating, in the general mess of imprecision of feeling"

T S Eliot 'East Coker'

Baker R, Thomas S, Thomas PW, Owems M (2007)
Development of an emotional processing scale
Journal of Psychosomatic Research 62, 167-178

Dorset RDSU
Cornelia House Poole Hospital NHS Trust Longfleet Road Poole Dorset BH15 2JB
Email dawn.stevens@poole.nhs.uk

Background leading to the development of the emotional processing scale

Pre-piloting

Piloting and item selection for the working version

Background leading to the
development of the emotional processing scale