title: Face and emotion recognition in MCDD versus PDD-NOS.
abstract: Previous studies indicate that Multiple Complex Developmental Disorder (MCDD) children differ from PDD-NOS and autistic children on a symptom level and on psychophysiological functioning. Children with MCDD (n = 21) and PDD-NOS (n = 62) were compared on two facets of social-cognitive functioning: identification of neutral faces and facial expressions. Few significant group differences emerged. Children with PDD-NOS demonstrated a more attention-demanding strategy of face processing, and processed neutral faces more similarly to complex patterns whereas children with MCDD showed an advantage for face recognition compared to complex patterns. Results further suggested that any disadvantage in face recognition was related more to the autistic features of the PDD-NOS group rather than characteristics specific to MCDD. No significant group differences emerged for identifying facial expressions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Center-Sophia Children's Hospital Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. c.herba@erasmusmc.nl
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Herba
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Bruin
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Althaus
authors.forename: Fop
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Verheij
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Ferdinand
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000453:epidemiology; D000339:Affect; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005145:Face; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D014888:Wechsler Scales