Establishing the Relationship Between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Emotional Facial Expression Recognition Deficit: A Systematic Review.
- Authors
- Type
- Published Article
- Journal
- Journal of Attention Disorders
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2023
- Volume
- 27
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 1181–1195
- Identifiers
- DOI: 10.1177/10870547231154901
- PMID: 36843351
- Source
- Medline
- Keywords
- Language
- English
- License
- Unknown
Abstract
In this review, we examined if there is a deficit in facial recognition of emotion (FER) in children, adolescents, and adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Emotional regulation is impaired in ADHD. Although a facial emotion recognition deficit has been described in this condition, the underlying causal mechanisms remain unclear. The search was performed in six databases in September 2022. Studies assessing children, adolescents, or adults with isolated or comorbid ADHD that evaluated participants using a FER task were included. Twelve studies out of 385 were selected, with participants ranging in age from 6 to 37.1 years. A deficit in FER specific to ADHD, or secondary to comorbid autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, and oppositional symptoms, was found. There is a FER deficit in patients with ADHD. Adults showed improved recognition accuracy, reflecting partial compensation. ADHD symptoms and comorbidities appear to influence FER deficits.
