An exploratory study of evoked facial affect in adolescent females with anorexia nervosa.

The aim of this exploratory study was to investigate facial affect in adolescent females with anorexia nervosa (AN). Evoked facial affect was recorded whilst AN and control participants (n=34) viewed emotional films. Significantly less facial affect was found in AN adolescents, despite reporting no differences in subjective emotion experience. These findings correspond with previous studies in adults with AN. Altered facial affect may impair interpersonal functioning and contribute to illness maintenance.