title: Facial affect recognition in the course of schizophrenia.
abstract: Deficits in facial affect recognition have been shown repeatedly in schizophrenia. However, the stability of this deficit over time remains to be clarified. A total of 36 remitted, 32 acutely ill schizophrenic patients and 21 healthy volunteers participated in a cross-sectional and longitudinal study. All subjects were assessed twice within 4 weeks (acute schizophrenics and normal controls), or 12 weeks, respectively (remitted schizophrenics). Subjects had to identify six basic emotions from corresponding facial expressions shown as photographs on a video screen. Both acute and remitted schizophrenics demonstrated a stable deficit over time in facial affect recognition unrelated to psychopathology and medication. This suggests that deficits in facial affect recognition in schizophrenia reflect a trait-like, rather than a state-dependent, characteristic.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Wölwer
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Streit
authors: U
authors: U
authors: Polzer
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Gaebel
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002746:Chlorpromazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004644:Emotions; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012938:Social Perception
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D006220:Haloperidol; D002746:Chlorpromazine