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. SUBJECTS AND 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.

Generalized and specific emotion impairments as potential markers of severity in obsessive-compulsive disorder. A preliminary study using Facial Action Coding System (FACS) / Valeriani, G; Bersani, Fs; Liberati, Damien; Polli, E; Girolami, Maria Teresa; Zullo, D; Imperatori, C; Melcore, C; Tomassini, L; Albano, Gabriella; Posocco, Fb; Bersani, G.. - In: PSYCHIATRIA DANUBINA. - ISSN 0353-5053. - STAMPA. - 27:2(2015), pp. 159-167.

Generalized and specific emotion impairments as potential markers of severity in obsessive-compulsive disorder. A preliminary study using Facial Action Coding System (FACS)

Valeriani, G;Bersani, Fs;Liberati, Damien;Polli, E;Zullo, D;Melcore, C;Tomassini, L;Albano, Gabriella;Bersani, G.
2015

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. SUBJECTS AND 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.
2015
obsessive-compulsive disorder; facial action coding system; emotion expression
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Generalized and specific emotion impairments as potential markers of severity in obsessive-compulsive disorder. A preliminary study using Facial Action Coding System (FACS) / Valeriani, G; Bersani, Fs; Liberati, Damien; Polli, E; Girolami, Maria Teresa; Zullo, D; Imperatori, C; Melcore, C; Tomassini, L; Albano, Gabriella; Posocco, Fb; Bersani, G.. - In: PSYCHIATRIA DANUBINA. - ISSN 0353-5053. - STAMPA. - 27:2(2015), pp. 159-167.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/867538
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