Impaired emotional facial expression recognition in alcoholism compared with obsessive-compulsive disorder and normal controls

Emotional facial expression (EFE) decoding skills have been shown to be imp aired in recovering alcoholics (RA). The aim of the present study is to rep licate these results and to explore whether these abnormalities are specifi c to alcoholism using two control groups: non-patient controls (NC) and pat ients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OC). Twenty-two alcoholic patient s at the end of their detoxification process (RA) were compared to 22 OC an d 22 NC matched for age, sex and education level. They were presented with 12 photographs of facial expressions portraying different emotions: happine ss; anger; and fear. Each emotion was displayed with mild (30%) and moderat e (70%) intensity levels. Each EFE was judged on 8 scales labeled happiness , sadness, fear, anger, disgust, surprise, shame and contempt. For each sca le, subjects rated the estimated intensity level. RA were less accurate in EFE decoding than OC and NC, particularly for anger and happiness expressio ns. RA overestimated the emotional intensity for mild intensity level expre ssions compared with both OC and NC while no significant differences emerge d for moderate intensity level expressions. Deficits in EFE decoding skills seem to be specific to RA when compared with OC. Comparison with other psy chopathological groups is still needed. Possible consequences of EFE decodi ng deficits in RA include distorted interpersonal relationships. (C) 2001 E lsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.