title: Recognition of facial emotions among maltreated children with high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to examine processing of facial emotions in a sample of maltreated children showing high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Maltreatment during childhood has been associated independently with both atypical processing of emotion and the development of PTSD. However, research has provided little evidence indicating how high rates of PTSD might relate to maltreated children's processing of emotions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants' reaction time and labeling of emotions were measured using a morphed facial emotion identification task. Participants included a diverse sample of maltreated children with and without PTSD and controls ranging in age from 8 to 15 years. Maltreated children had been removed from their homes and placed in state custody following experiences of maltreatment. Diagnoses of PTSD and other disorders were determined through combination of parent, child, and teacher reports.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maltreated children displayed faster reaction times than controls when labeling emotional facial expressions, and this result was most pronounced for fearful faces. Relative to children who were not maltreated, maltreated children both with and without PTSD showed enhanced response times when identifying fearful faces. There was no group difference in labeling of emotions when identifying different facial emotions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maltreated children show heightened ability to identify fearful faces, evidenced by faster reaction times relative to controls. This association between maltreatment and atypical processing of emotion is independent of PTSD diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of California, 1285 Franz Hall, Box 951563, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Carrie L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Masten
authors.forename: Amanda E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Guyer
authors.forename: Hilary B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Hodgdon
authors.forename: Erin B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: McClure
authors.forename: Dennis S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Charney
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.forename: Daniel S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Pine
authors.forename: Christopher S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Monk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002655:Child Custody; D015897:Comorbidity; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D004644:Emotions; D005149:Facial Expression; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D005581:Foster Home Care / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011930:Reaction Time; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*