Enhanced recognition of facial expressions of disgust in opiate users receiving maintenance treatment.
Addiction
; 101(11): 1598-605, 2006 Nov.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-17034439
ABSTRACT
AIMS:
Accurate recognition of facial expressions of emotion is critical in interpersonal interaction but is impaired in alcoholics, even after a period of abstinence. Little is known of whether other drug-dependent populations also show these impairments. This study aimed to investigate facial expression recognition by chronic opiate users.DESIGN:
An independent group design was used to compare 20 participants receiving opiate substitution treatment, 20 ex-opiate users in rehabilitation (average abstinence of 6 months) and 21 unemployed healthy controls. MEASUREMENTS The accuracy and speed of recognizing morphed emotional facial expressions were assessed using an emotional hexagon task.FINDINGS:
Current opiate users were significantly more accurate than ex-users at recognizing expressions of disgust. They were also generally slower than controls in recognizing all expressions, and slower than ex-opiate users in recognizing surprise, happy and fearful expressions.CONCLUSIONS:
Opiate users in maintenance treatment show a heightened ability to recognize facial expressions of disgust. We suggest that this may reflect increased exposure to other people's expressions of disgust and/or priming by the physical and social environments encountered by opiate-dependent individuals. Further, opiate maintained individuals' global slowness in processing emotional expressions may reflect the sedative effects of methadone.
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Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Emociones
/
Expresión Facial
/
Trastornos Relacionados con Opioides
Límite:
Adult
/
Humans
/
Male
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Addiction
Asunto de la revista:
TRANSTORNOS RELACIONADOS COM SUBSTANCIAS
Año:
2006
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Reino Unido