Browsing by Author "Souto, Teresa"
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- Facial emotion recognition: virtual reality program for facial emotion recognition—a trial program targeted at individuals with schizophreniaPublication . Souto, Teresa; Silva, Hugo; Leite, Ângela; Batista, Alexandre; Queirós, Cristina; Marques, António da SilvaPeople with severe mental illness (SMI), schizophrenia in particular, show considerable functional impairment in emotional recognition and social perception, which negatively affects interpersonal relationships and social functioning. Owing to its ecological validity, virtual reality (VR) has been observed to improve both assessment and training of emotional recognition skills of people with SMI. This article includes two studies: (a) a descriptive study on the Virtual Reality program for Facial Emotion Recognition (VR-FER) and (b) an empirical study that presents the results of the application of the VR-FER’s first module. For the second study, data were collected using two samples: a group of 12 people with schizophrenia and a reference group of 12 people who were mentally healthy. Data analysis comprised descriptive (mean, standard deviation) and inferential statistics (Mann–Whitney U test). Results showed that the first group presented a lower number of correct answers and a higher number of incorrect answers compared with the second group regarding facial emotion recognition (FER), thereby confirming the need to develop strategies to improve emotional recognition and social perception in people with schizophrenia. VR-FER is regarded a strategic training program for FER, using latest technology and following rehabilitation guidelines for SMI.
- Facial emotional recognition in schizophrenia: preliminary results of the virtual reality program for facial emotional recognitionPublication . Souto, Teresa; Baptista, Alexandre; Tavares, Diana; Queirós, Cristina; Marques, AntónioBACKGROUND: Significant deficits in emotional recognition and social perception characterize patients with schizophrenia and have direct negative impact both in inter-personal relationships and in social functioning. Virtual reality, as a methodological resource, might have a high potential for assessment and training skills in people suffering from mental illness. OBJECTIVES: To present preliminary results of a facial emotional recognition assessment designed for patients with schizophrenia, using 3D avatars and virtual reality. METHODS: Presentation of 3D avatars which reproduce images developed with the FaceGen® software and integrated in a three-dimensional virtual environment. Each avatar was presented to a group of 12 patients with schizophrenia and a reference group of 12 subjects without psychiatric pathology. RESULTS: The results show that the facial emotions of happiness and anger are better recognized by both groups and that the major difficulties arise in fear and disgust recognition. Frontal alpha electroencephalography variations were found during the presentation of anger and disgust stimuli among patients with schizophrenia. DISCUSSION: The developed program evaluation module can be of surplus value both for patient and therapist, providing the task execution in a non anxiogenic environment, however similar to the actual experience.
- Reconhecimento emocional facial: programa experimental de realidade virtual para pessoas com esquizofreniaPublication . Souto, Teresa; Baptista, Alexandre; Queirós, Cristina; Marques, AntónioA realidade virtual (RV), como recurso metodológico, tem provado ter um elevado potencial na avaliação e treino de pessoas que sofrem de doença mental, nomeadamente esquizofrenia (Costa et al., 2000; Kim et al., 2007). Apresentar um programa (RV-REF) em fase experimental, com uma concepção modular que visa em formato individualizado a avaliação e treino reconhecimento facial emociona incluindo feedback do desempenho em cada tarefa. Apresentação do 1º módulo do programa, relativo à avaliação do reconhecimento emocional facial e respectivos resultados. Avaliou-se a capacidade de reconhecimento das seis emoções básicas (alegria, tristeza, raiva, nojo, surpresa e medo), tendo por base estudos prévios sobre esta temática, efectuados com a metodologia de fotografias, referenciada por Ekman e Friesen (2003) e introduzindo alterações relativamente ao tipo de estímulos e forma de apresentação. No RV-REF, recorre-se a avatares tridimensionais em ambientes virtuais igualmente tridimensionais, o que constitui uma abordagem ecológica. São as emoções de felicidade e raiva as melhor reconhecidas pelos dois grupos (um grupo de 12 indivíduos com esquizofrenia e um grupo de referência de 12 indivíduos sem patologia psiquiátrica) com, respectivamente, 92% e 100% de acertos. As principais dificuldades surgem no reconhecimento do medo (17% de acertos em ambos os grupos), nojo (33% de acertos para o grupo de indivíduos com esquizofrenia) e tristeza (42% de acertos grupo de referência). É necessário melhorar algumas expressões emocionais mas, este formato de avaliação, sendo mais representativo da realidade em que o indivíduo se encontra inserido, constitui uma inovação terapêutica.