A MULTIMETHOD, MULTICHANNEL ASSESSMENT OF AFFECTIVE FLATTENING IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

Flat affect was examined across multiple contexts (during interviews a nd emotional films), multiple channels of expression (facial and vocal ), and different assessment techniques (clinical ratings, observationa l ratings of facial expression, and acoustic analyses) in 23 medicatio n-free schizophrenic patients. Patients participated in three differen t interviews during which either clinical ratings were made or their v oices were audiotaped for later acoustic analyses. Patients were also videotaped while they viewed positive and negative emotional films. Th e videotapes were then coded for the frequency, intensity, and duratio n of positive and negative facial expressions. Results indicated that general clinical ratings were related across different interviews. How ever, only those items specific to affective flattening bore significa nt relationships to vocal and facial expressiveness. Vocal expressiven ess and negative facial expressiveness were related, but vocal express iveness was not related to positive facial expressiveness.