Facial expression during trauma exposition

New studies on trauma suggest that most patients suffering from post traumatic stress disorder can benefit from using a new therapeutic strategy named EMDR ('eye movement desensitization and reprocessing'). However, our theoretical understanding of the properties and indications of EMDR remain unexplained and controversial.

Using a multi-channel behavioral approach, involving EMFACS (Emotional Facial Action Coding System), gaze analysis and interaction analysis, our work examines the conscious and unconscious processes affecting the regulation of interactions between therapists and patients during initial therapy sessions. We also record facial expression as an indicator of cognitive and affective information processing during trauma exposition with EMDR.
The clinical hypotheses of trauma therapists will be discussed, along with presumed indicators of improvement. We will also present some initial results from our analysis of facial expression.

Conference

English

A. K. Kirsch

Kirsch, A. K. (2002, August). Facial expression during trauma exposition. Presentation at 4th International Conference on Methods and Techniques in Behavioral Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands