Evaluate the collective function of references cited together in a given text segment.
Classify their combined role into one of the following categories: 'method', 'background', or 'result'.

Text:Few studies demonstrated the importance of alexithymia among suicidal patients, but the results were not consistent (Sayar & Acar 2003, Hintikka et al. 2004, Iancu et al. 1999).
Category: