title: Generalized and specific emotion impairments as potential markers of severity in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: a preliminary study using Facial Action Coding System (FACS).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of emotional deficits in the poor outcomes of patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) has been emphasized. Generalized and specific emotional abnormalities have been reported, often related to OCD severity and functional disabilities. The objective of the present study was to assess the abilities of experiencing and displaying emotions in OCD patients in response to specific stimuli in relation with the severity of their clinical condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six individuals participated in the study: 10 OCD patients with severe symptoms, 11 with mild-moderate symptoms, and 15 healthy controls. All participants watched emotion-eliciting video clips while their facial activity was videotaped. The congruent/incongruent feeling of emotions and the facial expression in reaction to emotions were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The two subgroups of OCD patients presented similarly incongruent emotive feelings and facial expressions (significantly worse than healthy participants). Moreover, OCD patients with severe symptoms expressed the emotion of happiness and disgust significantly less appropriately than OCD patients with mild-moderate symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present data support the hypothesis that impaired emotional processing may: (i) represent a potential contributor to poor outcome in OCD; (ii) constitute a warning sign for clinicians to establish a more comprehensive protocol for more severe cases; (iii) influence therapeutic strategies used to treat this disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Universitá, no. 30 - 00185 - Rome, Italy, gius-val@hotmail.it.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valeriani
authors.forename: Francesco Saverio
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Bersani
authors.forename: Damien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liberati
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Polli
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Girolami
authors.forename: Daiana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zullo
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Imperatori
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Melcore
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tomassini
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Albano
authors.forename: Flaminia Bolzan Mariotti
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Posocco
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bersani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012720:Severity of Illness Index