Ethological study of facial behavior in nonparanoid and paranoid schizophrenic patients

Abstract

This investigation addressed the question of affective disturbance in schizophrenia by applying quantitative measurement techniques to patients' facial behavior. The subjects were medication-free male inpatients: nine nonparanoid and six paranoid schizophrenic patients and 12 drug- or alcohol-abuse rehabilitation control patients. Two judges scored the subjects' behavior, which was recorded on videotape, according to a system that included 16 different types of facial movements. Eye blinks, eye contact, and words spoken were also scored. Compared to the control patients, the nonparanoid schizophrenic patients spoke significantly fewer words and had significantly less eye contact, while the paranoid schizophrenic patients had significantly fewer eyebrow and lower facial movements.