Accuracy and intensity of posed emotional expressions in unmedicated schizophrenia patients: vocal and facial channels

Psychiatry Res. 2007 May 30;151(1-2):67-76. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2006.09.010. Epub 2007 Mar 21.

Abstract

This study investigated the ability of schizophrenia patients to volitionally display various emotional expressions. Accuracy and intensity of facial and vocal emotional expression were rated in 26 unmedicated male schizophrenia patients and 20 non-patient male controls while posing emotional facial and vocal expressions. Results indicate that schizophrenia patients, compared to non-patient controls, had deficits in their ability to portray some, but not all, emotions. Accuracy and intensity of posed facial and vocal expressions were inversely correlated with negative symptoms in the patient group. We conclude that observable flattened affect in schizophrenia during posed expression is not evident across all emotions. Furthermore, substantial disruption in the ability to portray posed emotions may be largely driven by the presence of negative symptoms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Affective Symptoms / diagnosis
  • Affective Symptoms / psychology
  • Depression / diagnosis
  • Depression / psychology
  • Emotions*
  • Facial Expression*
  • Hospitals, Veterans
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nonverbal Communication*
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / statistics & numerical data
  • Schizophrenia / diagnosis*
  • Schizophrenic Psychology*
  • Speech Acoustics*
  • Statistics as Topic
  • Veterans / psychology*