Facial emotion recognition in children with or without Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Impact of comorbidity,La reconnaissance des émotions faciales des enfants avec ou sans trouble déficit de l’attention hyperactivité: l’impact de la comorbidité
L'Encéphale. 2019-04-01; 45(2): 114-120
DOI: 10.1016/j.encep.2018.01.006
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Maire J(1), Galera C(2), Roux S(3), Bioulac S(4), Bouvard M(4), Michel G(5).
Author information:
(1)Department “Health and achievement in the young”, Center for Research
“Bordeaux Population Health”, Inserm U1219, 33076 Bordeaux cedex, France.
Electronic address: .
(2)Department “Health and achievement in the young”, Center for Research
“Bordeaux Population Health”, Inserm U1219, 33076 Bordeaux cedex, France; Child
and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Charles-Perrens Hospital, 121, rue de la
Bechade, 33076 Bordeaux cedex, France.
(3)Laboratory of Psychology, University of Bordeaux, 3 ter, place de la Victoire,
33076 Bordeaux cedex, France.
(4)Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Charles-Perrens Hospital, 121, rue
de la Bechade, 33076 Bordeaux cedex, France.
(5)Department “Health and achievement in the young”, Center for Research
“Bordeaux Population Health”, Inserm U1219, 33076 Bordeaux cedex, France.
OBJECTIVES: This study sought to assess facial emotion recognition deficit in
children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and to test the
hypothesis that it is increased by comorbid features.
METHOD: Forty children diagnosed with ADHD were compared with 40 typically
developing children, all aged from 7 to 11years old, on a computerized facial
emotion recognition task (based on the Pictures of Facial Affect). Data from
parents’ ratings of ADHD and comorbid symptoms (on the Conners’ Revised Parent
Rating Scale) were also collected.
RESULTS: Children with ADHD had significantly fewer correct answer scores than
typically developing controls on the emotional task while they performed
similarly on the control task. Recognition of sadness was especially impaired in
children with ADHD. While ADHD symptoms were slightly related to facial emotion
recognition deficit, oppositional symptoms were related to a decrease in the
number of correct answers on sadness and surprise recognition.
CONCLUSION: Facial emotion recognition deficit in children with ADHD might be
related to an impaired emotional process during childhood. Moreover, Oppositional
Defiant Disorder seems to be a risk factor for difficulties in emotion
recognition especially in children with ADHD.
Copyright © 2018 L’Encéphale, Paris. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.