Neurodegenerative disease management
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Neurodegener Dis Manag · Apr 2016
ReviewThe use of facial expressions for pain assessment purposes in dementia: a narrative review.
Facial expressions convey reliable nonverbal signals about pain and thus are very useful for assessing pain in patients with limited communicative ability, such as patients with dementia. In this review, we present an overview of the available pain observation tools and how they make use of facial expressions. ⋯ The main focus is on disinhibition, apathy and emotional changes. Finally, an overview of theoretical considerations and practical implications is presented for assessing pain using facial expressions in clinical settings.