Attentional bias to emotional faces on individuals in the remitted phase of recurrent depression: an eye-tracking study

Abstract

Objective To explore the attentional bias to emotional faces on individuals in the remitted phase of recurrent depression through eye-tracking study. Methods Center for epidemiologic studies depression scale (CES-D ) and Hamilton depression scale (HAMD ) were used to the diagnosis of 24 normal individuals and 21 depressed individuals and 24 individuals in the remitted phase of recurrent depression. Emotion face pictures were chosen as experiment material and discuss the mechanism of the attentional bias of individuals in the remitted phase of recurrent depression through the analysis of eye movement index. Results First fixation duration bias score on happy expression picture of individuals in the remitted phase of recurrent depression((52.60±0.06)%) was less than normal controls ((59.26±0.09)%) and the depression group((53.27±0.07)%), (F(l, 66)=12.32, 7.23, P<0.05). Gaze Duration Bias score on sad expression picture of individuals in the remitted phase of recurrent depression((59.17±0.08)%) was more than normal controls((49.67±0.07)%), (F(l, 66)=4.29, P<0.05). Conclusion Individuals in the remitted phase of recurrent depression show no original direction bias to sad and happy expression pictures. Original attentional avoidance and total attentional maintenance to sad expression picture exist in individuals in the remitted phase of recurrent depression. Key words: Individuals in the remitted phase of recurrent depression; Depressed individuals; Attentional bias; Eye movement