TY - JOUR
T1 - Heightened sensitivity to facial expressions of emotion in borderline personality disorder
AU - Lynch, Thomas R.
AU - Rosenthal, M. Zachary
AU - Kosson, David S.
AU - Cheavens, Jennifer S.
AU - Lejuez, C. W.
AU - Blair, R. J.R.
PY - 2006/11
Y1 - 2006/11
N2 - Individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) have been hypothesized to exhibit significant problems associated with emotional sensitivity. The current study examined emotional sensitivity (i.e., low threshold for recognition of emotional stimuli) in BPD by comparing 20 individuals with BPD and 20 normal controls on their accuracy in identifying emotional expressions. Results demonstrated that, as facial expressions morphed from neutral to maximum intensity, participants with BPD correctly identified facial affect at an earlier stage than did healthy controls. Participants with BPD were more sensitive than healthy controls in identifying emotional expressions in general, regardless of valence. These findings could not be explained by participants with BPD responding faster with more errors. Overall, results appear to support the contention that heightened emotional sensitivity may be a core feature of BPD.
AB - Individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) have been hypothesized to exhibit significant problems associated with emotional sensitivity. The current study examined emotional sensitivity (i.e., low threshold for recognition of emotional stimuli) in BPD by comparing 20 individuals with BPD and 20 normal controls on their accuracy in identifying emotional expressions. Results demonstrated that, as facial expressions morphed from neutral to maximum intensity, participants with BPD correctly identified facial affect at an earlier stage than did healthy controls. Participants with BPD were more sensitive than healthy controls in identifying emotional expressions in general, regardless of valence. These findings could not be explained by participants with BPD responding faster with more errors. Overall, results appear to support the contention that heightened emotional sensitivity may be a core feature of BPD.
KW - Borderline personality disorder
KW - Emotional sensitivity
KW - Facial affect recognition
KW - Facial expressions
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33845506657&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33845506657&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1037/1528-3542.6.4.647
DO - 10.1037/1528-3542.6.4.647
M3 - Article
C2 - 17144755
AN - SCOPUS:33845506657
VL - 6
SP - 647
EP - 655
JO - Emotion
JF - Emotion
SN - 1528-3542
IS - 4
ER -