Does Recognition of Facial Expression of Primary and Social Emotions in ALS Patients Interfere with Social Competence? (P01.110)

Abstract

Objective: To assess the recognition of facial expression of primary and social emotions and to correlate it with depressive and behavioural symptoms. Background Facial expressions play an important role in communication processes. Previous studies have indicated that ALS patients have disturbances in emotional perception and memory. Understanding social abilities in ALS patients is therefore a focus for further consideration and concern about the disease and patients management. Design/Methods: A group of 43 consecutive ALS patients and 54 controls were tested to evaluate their ability to recognize facial expressions of basic and social emotions. Further questionnaires were administered to the patients group in order to assess behavioural changes, mood and quality of life. Results: In recognizing facial expressions ALS patients made significantly more errors than healthy controls. Considering the 6 basic emotions, 12 patients and only 2 controls showed performances above the cut-off score. Similarly, patients made more errors than controls in the social emotion test. Bulbar onset or the presence of bulbar signs at the time of the evaluation was not correlated to the error recognition rate of basic and social facial expression. The error rate was not correlated to the patients physical status. We also found a statistically significant correlation between the facial recognition of basic emotions and neurobehavioral symptoms with a higher number of errors corresponding to a higher FrSBe score. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that patients with ALS show a different pattern of recognition in facial expression when compared to healthy adults. Emotional recognition deficits may occur in ALS, particularly with emotional facial expressions, and can arise independently from depressive symptoms. In our series the recognition of facial basic emotions seems to be correlated with the presence of behavioural changes of the frontotemporal type supporting the presence of a diminished social competence. Disclosure: Dr. Moglia has nothing to disclose. Dr. Calvo has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ilardi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Canosa has nothing to disclose. Dr. Cammarosano has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bersano has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bertuzzo has nothing to disclose. Dr. Manera has nothing to disclose. Dr. Moglia has nothing to disclose. Dr. Casale has nothing to disclose. Dr. Montuschi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chio has nothing to disclose.