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Facial expressions in severely demented patients—a stimulus–response study of four patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type
Author(s) -
Asplund Kenneth,
Norberg Astrid,
Adolfsson Rolf,
Waxman Howard M.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.930060809
Subject(s) - stimulus (psychology) , psychology , facial expression , dementia , alzheimer's disease , audiology , facial action coding system , degenerative disease , developmental psychology , neuroscience , medicine , cognitive psychology , central nervous system disease , disease , communication
The ability to exhibit facial expressions was studied in four patients with severe dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT), by means of the Facial Action Coding System (FACS) and physiological responses (heart rate, respiration, skin temperature) under pleasant and unpleasant stimulus conditions. Complex facial expressions that could be interpreted as expressions of emotions were not seen. An increase in the number of facial movements and changes in the physiological responses were seen most markedly under the unpleasant stimulus condition. The patients' reactions during the assumed pleasant stimulus conditions indicated comfort. Different reactions were obtained among the patients. The importance of developing further methods to identify and interpret facial movements in nurse‐patient relationships is emphasized.