Mary Katsikitis

A generalised deficit can account for problems in facial emotion recognition in schizophrenia

Neuroimaging research has shown localised brain activation to different facial expressions. This, along with the finding that schizophrenia patients perform poorly in their recognition of negative emotions, has raised the suggestion that patients display an emotion specific impairment. We propose that this asymmetry in performance reflects task difficulty gradations, rather than aberrant processing in neural pathways subserving recognition of specific emotions. A neural network model is presented, which classifies facial expressions on the basis of measurements derived from human faces. After training, the network showed an accuracy pattern closely resembling that of healthy subjects. Lesioning of the network led to an overall decrease in the networks discriminant capacity, with the greatest accuracy decrease to fear, disgust and anger stimuli. This implies that the differential pattern of impairment in schizophrenia patients can be explained without having to postulate impairment of specific processing modules for negative emotion recognition.

The Classification of Facial Expressions of Emotion: A Multidimensional-Scaling Approach:

Photographs (study 1) or line-drawing representations (study 2) of posed facial expressions and a list of emotion words (happiness, surprise, fear, disgust, anger, sadness, neutral) were presented to two groups of observers who were asked to match the photographs or line drawings, respectively, with the emotion categories provided. A multidimensional-scaling procedure was applied to the judgment data. Two dimensions were revealed; pleasantness – unpleasantness and upper-face – lower-face dominance. Furthermore, the similarity shown by the two-dimensional structures derived first from the judgments of photographs and second from the line drawings suggests that line drawings are a viable alternative to photographs in facial-expression research.

The 'expert' in problem-based and case-based learning: necessary or not?

Problem‐based learning (PBL) and other small‐group teaching methods which incorporate principles of adult learning, are exciting innovations in medical education. In the application of these methods to medical curricula many schools have introduced non‐expert tutors. However, research evaluating the effectiveness of non‐expert lead teaching has been inconclusive.

Illness behaviour and general practice utilisation: A prospective study

The Illness Behaviour Questionnaire (IBQ) was used to compare general practice patients who presented physical complaints in the absence of objective pathology, with those in whom the presence of pathology was established. Patients without pathology showed a greater conviction as to the presence of disease, and greater degrees of anxiety, depression and irritability. Males and females differed on their IBQ scores: males showing more disease conviction, somatic focusing and hypochondriasis. Utilisation of general practitioner services (as indicated by the number of visits in the six months subsequent to completing the IBQ) was associated with greater age, and for the group as a whole, utilisation was predicted by higher scores on the following IBQ scales: disease conviction, affective disturbance and disease affirmation. This was also the case for males, but in females only affective disturbance correlated with a greater number of visits. Four patterns were delineated in the relationship between age, illness behaviour variables, the presence or absence of objective pathology, and G.P. contacts.

The Illness Behavior Questionnaire as an Aid to Clinical Assessment

The Illness Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ) is a 62-item self-report instrument that provides information relevant to the delineation of a patients attitudes, ideas, affects, and attributions in relation to illness. The scores generated are described, and nine clinical vignettes are presented, together with IBQ score profiles and interpretations to illustrate the manner in which the latter may complement other clinical data. The ways in which individuals react to their own health status is becoming of greater importance as the taking of responsibility for ones own health is increasingly emphasized. The IBQ provides information that should be relevant to the management of patients, regardless of the specific nature of their illness.

Postoperative pain experiences: Relevant patient and staff attitudes

Postoperative pain continues to occur, despite both advances in analgesic techniques and recognition of the damaging effect of pain upon recovery. This study set out to describe the pain experiences of successive cholecystectomy patients in a large teaching hospital, using three different pain measures and self-reports of anxiety and pain-related attitudes and experiences. Nurses and doctors in surgical wards provided parallel information about their pain-related attitudes and practices. A substantial proportion of patients suffered significant postoperative pain, apparently related to their fear of addiction and reluctance to ask for extra analgesic help. Nurses were more convinced than patients that patients should have more control of their own pain relief. Barriers to effective pain relief are seen to include cognitive, attitudinal and systemic factors; some suggestions are offered for reform of relevant hospital practices.

The classification of facial emotions: a computer-based taxonomic approach

This study investigated whether the six fundamental expressions of emotion each have configurational properties which would result in their being grouped into classes by a classification program. Twenty-three actors posed the six fundamental emotions of happiness, surprise, fear, disgust, anger, sadness and a neutral expression. Still images of these videotaped expressions were digitised and distance measures between facial landmark points were obtained. These measures were subjected to a numerical taxonomy procedure which generated five classes. Class 1 contained almost 70% of the happiness expressions. In Class 2 the majority of expressions were of surprise. Each of classes three, four and five consisted of mixtures of emotions. Class 5 however, was distinguished from all other classes by the complete absence of happiness expressions. The typical facial appearance of members of each class is described (based on distance measures). These findings support the salience of happiness among emotional expressions and may have implications for our understanding of the brains function in the early development of the human infant as a social organism.

A controlled study of facial mobility treatment in Parkinson's disease

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of orofacial physiotherapeutic treatment (OPT) on the facial mobility of Parkinsons disease (PD) sufferers. Sixteen participants with PD were allocated randomly to either the Treatment group or the Control group. A short interview between the physiotherapist and each subject was videotaped, and 10 random frames of the videotape were selected to be used in the facial expression assessment. The quantification of facial expressions was achieved by using an objective microcomputer-based measurement system, based on a mathematical model of the face (FACEM). A facial outline is obtained, as well as 12 facial measures, which represent distances between key facial landmarks. The facial assessment was performed on 3 separate occasions, that is, baseline (pretreatment), posttreatment, and follow-up (4 weeks later). A repeated measures analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed a significant main effect of Time and a significant interaction effect between Time and Group for the Mouth-Opening Measure, suggesting that after treatment, members of the Treatment group opened their mouths to a greater degree than members of the Control group. Within the Treatment group, significant differences between pretreatment and posttreatment scores (MANOVA) were found for Mouth-Opening Measure and Mid-Top-Lip Measure. Similarly, Mouth-Opening Measure, Mid-Top-Lip Measure, Lower-Lip Thickness Measure, Top Eyelid/Iris Intersect Measure and Lower Eyelid/Iris Intersect Measure were significant across time from baseline to follow-up in the Treatment group only. No significant differences were found on any of the facial measures during the same period for members of the Control group. These findings suggest that OPT can improve facial movement and that this benefit extends in time, beyond the period of OPT itself. Such an increase in facial mobility can be expected to modify the Parkinsonian facies and facilitate the display of facial expressions.

The quantification of smiling using a microcomputer-based approach

This study examines the relationship between the ratings made of a set of smiling and neutral expressions and the facial features which influence these ratings. Judges were shown forty real face photographs of smile and neutral expressions and forty line drawings derived from these photographs and were asked to rate the degree of smiling behavior of each expression. The line drawings of the face were generated by a microcomputer which utilizes a mathematical model to quantify facial expression. Twelve facial measures were generated by the computer. Significant differences were found between the ratings of smile and neutral expressions. The Mode of Presentation did not contribute significantly to the ratings. Using the facial measures as separate covariates, five mouth measures and one eye measure were found to discriminate significantly between the ratings made on smile and neutral expressions. When entered as simultaneous covariates, only four mouth measures contributed to the differences found in the expression ratings. Future research projects which may utilise the computer model are discussed

A classification of illness behaviour in pain clinic patients

&NA; The Illness Behaviour Questionnaire (IBQ) (Pilowsky and Spence 1983) was administered to 824 pain clinic patients over a 10‐year period. Their responses to this 62‐item self‐report questionnaire were analysed using a numerical taxonomy programme. Of the 6 valid classes generated, 2 classes were delineated by at least 5 unique items. The main difference between these 2 classes, revealed by the item responses, was the acceptance or rejection of a psychological viewpoint. Comparison on the basis of mean IBQ scale scores indicated that, while members of both classes maintained the presence of a somatic disorder, they differed not only in their report of psychological symptoms but also by whether they showed an awareness of life problems unrelated to their physical problems.