[Childhood-onset versus acute, adult-onset traumatized patients in the light of amnestic tendencies and derealisation]. / Mimisch-affektive Beziehungsregulation von früh- versus akuttraumatisierten Patienten unter Berücksichtigung amnestischer Tendenzen und Derealisation.

OBJECTIVES: In the present study we examined the facial affective behaviour of acute adult-onset traumatized patients versus childhood-onset traumatized patients. Furthermore, we analyzed whether a decrease in emotional numbing results from a reduction of symptoms. We used amnestic tendencies as a moderator variable. METHODS: The facial affective behaviour was coded with the Emotional Facial Acting Coding System, an instrument for the registration of facial movements with emotional relevance. The facial affective behaviour of the patient's first and last EMDR sessions was compared. RESULTS: Childhood-onset and acute adult-onset traumatized patients showed the same reduction of overall facial activity. We found significantly higher psychic complaints (global severity index) (SCL-90-R) in childhood-onset traumatized patients and no difference in amnestic tendencies (FDS) between the two groups. Childhood-onset traumatized patients showed higher values of derealisation (FDS). CONCLUSIONS: The facial affective reduction remains constant over time. Also childhood-onset traumatized patients developed more psychic complaints and greater derealisation.

Facial expression and experience of emotions in psychodynamic interviews with patients with PTSD in comparison to healthy subjects.

BACKGROUND: The facial affective behavior of traumatized patients and of a healthy control group was compared. SAMPLING AND METHODS: Data of 15 videotaped clinical interviews of traumatized inpatients and of 15 healthy women (absence of mental/psychiatric disorder according to ICD-10) were ascertained. The affective facial expression of both groups was coded with the Emotional Facial Acting Coding System. Afterwards, the mimic analysis was correlated with gazing behavior and the emotional experience. The patients reported their traumatic experiences and the healthy women their main complaints. RESULTS: The traumatized patients showed neither a reduction of overall facial expressions nor a reduced frequency of facial affects in comparison to the healthy control group. The control group, however, showed significantly more 'genuine joy'. The traumatized patients showed significantly more anger. CONCLUSIONS: The traumatized patients did not show a significant reduction of overall facial expression. A more detailed analysis showed that on the one hand, stabilizing elements of relationships, such as genuine joy, appear significantly less on the face of traumatized patients as compared with the healthy women. On the other hand, the expression of anger was brought into the relationship significantly more often by the traumatized patients during face-to-face interaction (clinical interview). This indicates the importance of distance regulation interaction patterns of traumatized patients.

Fibromyalgia, facial expression and emotional experience.

BACKGROUND: The present study aims at analyzing the nonverbal affective behavior of female fibromyalgia (FM) inpatients in comparison to healthy women. METHODS: Videotaped psychodynamic interviews of each of 15 female FM inpatients and healthy women were analyzed. Afterwards the analyses of facial expression were related to gazing behavior and emotional experience. RESULTS: FM patients exhibited neither a reduction in total activity of facial expression nor in absolute frequency of primary affects in comparison to healthy women, who, however, (also in eye contact) also exhibited a significantly higher proportion of 'genuine joy' and a lower one of 'contempt'. No congruence between the patient's emotional experience and affective expression was found. CONCLUSIONS: The absence of reduced total activity of facial expression is in contrast to the elaborate descriptions of complaints provided by the patients. Nevertheless, our detailed analysis shows a lack of elements that stabilize the relationship and the presence of dissociating elements in the interactions.

[On the relationship between traumatization, amnesia and symptom stress--an empirical pilot study]. / Uber das Verhältnis von Traumatisierungen, Amnesie und Symptombelastung--eine empirische Pilotstudie.

OBJECTIVES: In the present study we examined facial affective behavior in acutely traumatized patients undergoing EMDR therapy. Furthermore, we analyzed whether a decrease in emotional numbing was due to a reduction of symptoms. Amnestic tendencies were used as a moderator variable. METHODS: The facial affective behaviour was coded using the Emotional Facial Acting Coding System, an instrument for the registration of facial movements with emotional relevance. The facial affective behavior of the patient's first and last EMDR session was compared. RESULTS: A significant increase in facial affective behavior as well as an increase in mental complaints were found. Furthermore, the reduction in amnestic tendencies did not result in a reduction of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Under the influence of the treatment it is possible to improve access to episodic affective memory. Nevertheless, a positive influence cannot be denoted at the end of the treatment.