title: Facial expression of positive emotions in individuals with eating disorders.
abstract: A large body of research has associated Eating Disorders with difficulties in socio-emotional functioning and it has been argued that they may serve to maintain the illness. This study aimed to explore facial expressions of positive emotions in individuals with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) and Bulimia Nervosa (BN) compared to healthy controls (HC), through an examination of the Duchenne smile (DS), which has been associated with feelings of enjoyment, amusement and happiness (Ekman et al., 1990). Sixty participants (AN=20; BN=20; HC=20) were videotaped while watching a humorous film clip. The duration and intensity of DS were subsequently analyzed using the facial action coding system (FACS) (Ekman and Friesen, 2003). Participants with AN displayed DS for shorter durations than BN and HC participants, and their DS had lower intensity. In the clinical groups, lower duration and intensity of DS were associated with lower BMI, and use of psychotropic medication. The study is the first to explore DS in people with eating disorders, providing further evidence of difficulties in the socio-emotional domain in people with AN.
authors: King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Psychological Medicine, London SE5 8AF, UK.
authors: Marcela M
authors: MM
authors: Dapelo
authors: King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Psychological Medicine, London SE5 8AF, UK.
authors: Sharon
authors: S
authors: Hart
authors: Rhodes Farm, Care UK, Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders Service, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1RH, UK.
authors: Christiane
authors: C
authors: Hale
authors: King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Psychology, London SE5 8AF, UK.
authors: Robin
authors: R
authors: Morris
authors: University of Southampton, School of Psychology, Highfield Campus, Southamptom SO17 1BJ, UK.
authors: Thomas R
authors: TR
authors: Lynch
authors: King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Psychological Medicine, London SE5 8AF, UK; Ilia State University, 3/5 Cholokashvili Street, Tbilisi, GA 0162, Georgia. Electronic address: Kate.Tchanturia@kcl.ac.uk.
authors: Kate
authors: K
authors: Tchanturia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005149:Facial Expression; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D014743:Videotape Recording
keywords: Anorexia Nervosa; Bulimia Nervosa; Duchenne smile; Emotion; Facial expression