Response confidence for emotion perception in schizophrenia using a Continuous Facial Sequence Task.

TY - JOUR

T1 - Response confidence for emotion perception in schizophrenia using a Continuous Facial Sequence Task.

AU - Moritz, Steffen

AU - Woznica, Aneta

AU - Andreou, Christina

AU - Köther, Ulf

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - Deficits in emotion perception and overconfidence in errors are well-documented in schizophrenia but have not been examined concurrently. The present study aimed to fill this gap. Twenty-three schizophrenia patients and twenty-nine healthy subjects underwent a Continuous Facial Sequence Task (CFST). The CFST comprised two blocks: a female (1st block) and a male protagonist (2nd block) displayed the six basic emotions postulated by Ekman as well as two more complex mental states and a neutral expression. Participants were first asked to identify the affect displayed by the performer and then to judge their response confidence. No group differences emerged regarding overall emotion perception. Follow-up analyses showed that patients were less correct in detecting some negative emotions but performed better for neutral or positive emotions. Regarding confidence, incorrect decisions in patients were associated with higher confidence than in controls (statistical trend level, moderate effect size). Patients displayed significant overconfidence in errors for negative emotions. In addition, patients were more prone to high-confident errors for emotions that were displayed in weak emotional intensity. While the study supports the view that the examination of confidence adds unique information to our understanding of social cognition, several methodological limitations render its findings preliminary.

AB - Deficits in emotion perception and overconfidence in errors are well-documented in schizophrenia but have not been examined concurrently. The present study aimed to fill this gap. Twenty-three schizophrenia patients and twenty-nine healthy subjects underwent a Continuous Facial Sequence Task (CFST). The CFST comprised two blocks: a female (1st block) and a male protagonist (2nd block) displayed the six basic emotions postulated by Ekman as well as two more complex mental states and a neutral expression. Participants were first asked to identify the affect displayed by the performer and then to judge their response confidence. No group differences emerged regarding overall emotion perception. Follow-up analyses showed that patients were less correct in detecting some negative emotions but performed better for neutral or positive emotions. Regarding confidence, incorrect decisions in patients were associated with higher confidence than in controls (statistical trend level, moderate effect size). Patients displayed significant overconfidence in errors for negative emotions. In addition, patients were more prone to high-confident errors for emotions that were displayed in weak emotional intensity. While the study supports the view that the examination of confidence adds unique information to our understanding of social cognition, several methodological limitations render its findings preliminary.

KW - Adult

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Female

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Neuropsychological Tests

KW - Emotions

KW - Schizophrenic Psychology

KW - Facial Expression

KW - Recognition (Psychology)

KW - Social Perception

KW - Theory of Mind

KW - Adult

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Female

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Neuropsychological Tests

KW - Emotions

KW - Schizophrenic Psychology

KW - Facial Expression

KW - Recognition (Psychology)

KW - Social Perception

KW - Theory of Mind

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

VL - 200

SP - 202

EP - 207

JO - PSYCHIAT RES

JF - PSYCHIAT RES

SN - 0165-1781

IS - 2-3

M1 - 2-3

ER -