title: Imitation of facial expressions in schizophrenia.
abstract: Diminished facial expressivity is a common feature of schizophrenia that interferes with effective interpersonal communication. This study was designed to determine if real-time visual feedback improved the ability of patients with schizophrenia to imitate and produce modeled facial expressions. Twenty patients with schizophrenia and 10 controls viewed static images of facial expressions and were asked to imitate them. Half of the images were imitated with the use of a mirror and half were imitated without the use of a mirror. In addition, we examined whether practice in imitating and producing expressions improved the ability of participants to generate facial expressions on their own, without the aid of a model or mirror. Participants' facial expressions were photographed with a digital camera and each was rated for accuracy in producing characteristic facial expressions. Patients with schizophrenia were less accurate in imitating and producing facial expressions than controls, and real-time visual feedback did not improve accuracy in either group. Preliminary findings suggest that exposure to model expressions and practice in generating these expressions can improve the accuracy of certain posed expressions in schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Service, Washington Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Barbara L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mastropaolo
authors.forename: Richard B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Rosse
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mathis
authors.forename: Stephen I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Deutsch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019260:Expressed Emotion; D005149:Facial Expression; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007100:Imitative Behavior; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010468:Perceptual Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D012073:Remedial Teaching / Q000379:methods; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D014796:Visual Perception