title: Dynamics of emotional expression in autobiographic speech of patients with anorexia nervosa.
abstract: Emotional disturbances in persons with anorexia nervosa have mainly been documented using static descriptions. This study presents the temporal organisation of emotional expression in autobiographical speech of anorexic patients and thereby provides a first attempt to quantify the dynamics of emotions in patients' speech. The temporal pattern of emotional expression for persons with anorexia nervosa was studied after transforming the autobiographical narratives of 14 patients and 13 matched controls into symbolic sequences of positive, negative, and neutral emotional expressions. These symbolic sequences of emotional states and silences were analyzed using static and dynamic indices. Static indices showed that patients with anorexia nervosa expressed more negative emotions and fewer neutral states than control participants. Dynamic indices showed in patients' speech a cycle of negative emotions and silence. These results showed specific dynamics of emotional expression in persons with anorexia nervosa characterised by the presence of negative emotional perseveration. The possible clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Université Lille 3, Department of Psychology, Domaine Universitaire, du Pont de Bois 59654 Villeneuve d'Ascq. karyn.doba@univ-lille3.fr
authors.forename: Karyn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Doba
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pezard
authors.forename: Annick
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lesne
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vignau
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Christophe
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Nandrino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology*; D001325:Autobiographies as Topic; D015992:Body Mass Index; D019260:Expressed Emotion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013060:Speech; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014705:Verbal Behavior