Attachment style and accuracy of facial expression recognition in depression

Abstract

Aim . To investigate links between the attachment style and ability to detect facial emotions using a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigm in depressed patients. Materials and methods . Participants diagnosed with mild to moderate depression or dysthymia (19 patients) and healthy volunteers (20 individuals) were to identify one of eight basic emotions on 48 photos by choosing the appropriate answer from two options. Attachment was measured using the Experience in Close Relationships Scale. In addition, depression, alexithymia, and rumination were estimated as other possible correlates. Results. In the group of patients with depression, anxious attachment score had a negative correlation with the accuracy of angry facial expression detection (ρ = –0.65, p < 0.01) and a positive correlation with the accuracy of sad facial expression recognition (ρ = 0.48, p < 0.05). Patients with high total rumination (ρ = –0.48, p < 0.05) and depressive rumination (ρ = –0.53, p < 0.05) scores also detected angry facial expression less accurately. None of the mentioned links were present in healthy people, however, they demonstrated a correlation of the total number of portraits tagged as “sad” with the brooding rumination score (ρ =0 .53, p < 0.05). Conclusion . Attachment disruptions in depressed patients may be related to aggravation of the deficit in the ability to detect emotions of others.