Behavioral treatment for deficits of facial affect recognition in
multiple sclerosis

Date:
April 12, 2022
Source:
Kessler Foundation
Summary:
A recent study has demonstrated efficacy for the behavioral
intervention, EMOPRINT, for treating deficits of facial recognition
in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). The study provides
Class I evidence supporting the efficacy of an intervention to
treat these deficits in MS.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A recent study by Kessler Foundation researchers demonstrated efficacy for
the behavioral intervention, EMOPRINT, for treating deficits of facial recognition in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). The article, "Emotional processing intervention (EMOPRINT): A blinded randomized
control trial to treat facial affect recognition deficits in multiple sclerosis," was epublished on January 19, 2022, by Multiple Sclerosis
and Related Disorders. The study is the first to provide Class I evidence supporting the efficacy of an intervention to treat these deficits in MS.


==========================================================================
The authors are Helen M. Genova, PhD, Katie Lancaster, PhD, Zuzanna
Myszko, Jimmy Morecraft, Jacqueline Leddy, Angela Smith, MA, Nancy Chiaravalloti, PhD, and Jean Lengenfelder, PhD, of Kessler Foundation.

Researchers compared 21 individuals with MS with 15 placebo controls in
this double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial of
EMOPRINT, a five-week, 12-session behavioral intervention for teaching
facial recognition of the six universal emotions -- happiness, sadness,
fear, surprise, anger, and disgust. Participants underwent baseline and follow-up neuropsychological assessments of facial affect recognition,
as well as assessments of quality of life and emotional functioning. At
follow up, facial affect recognition skills significantly improved in
the MS group compared with the placebo group.

The efficacy of EMOPRINT has important implications for individuals
with MS, as well as for other populations that experience deficits
of facial recognition, including autism, traumatic brain injury, and schizophrenia. Deficits in facial recognition, which are known to hinder
social functioning, are often associated with mood disorders and reduced quality of life, according to lead author Dr.

Genova, the Foundation's associate director of the Center for Autism
Research and an expert in the study of social cognition.

"Improving facial recognition may improve interpersonal relationships and
lead to better outcomes at home and in the workplace," she added. "The
success of EMOPRINT in this MS study is an important first step toward
the larger-scale, longer-term studies of social cognition we need to
study these potential effects." Funding: National Multiple Sclerosis
Society (RG-1507-05353)

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Kessler_Foundation. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Helen M. Genova, Katie Lancaster, Zuzanna Myszko, Jimmy Morecraft,
Jacqueline Leddy, Angela Smith, Nancy Chiaravalloti, Jean
Lengenfelder.

Emotional processing intervention (EMOPRINT): A blinded randomized
control trial to treat facial affect recognition deficits in
multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders,
2022; 59: 103536 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2022.103536 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220412141049.htm

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