Abstract
Cognitive theories of depression posit that perception is negatively biased in depressive disorder. Previous studies have provided empirical evidence for this notion, but left open the question whether the negative perceptual bias reflects a stable trait or the current depressive state. Here we investigated the stability of negatively biased perception over time. Emotion perception was examined in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and healthy control participants in two experiments. In the first experiment subjective biases in the recognition of facial emotional expressions were assessed. Participants were presented with faces that were morphed between sad and neutral and happy expressions and had to decide whether the face was sad or happy. The second experiment assessed automatic emotion processing by measuring the potency of emotional faces to gain access to awareness using interocular suppression. A follow-up investigation using the same tests was performed three months later. In the emotion recognition task, patients with major depression showed a shift in the criterion for the differentiation between sad and happy faces: In comparison to healthy controls, patients with MDD required a greater intensity of the happy expression to recognize a face as happy. After three months, this negative perceptual bias was reduced in comparison to the control group. The reduction in negative perceptual bias correlated with the reduction of depressive symptoms. In contrast to previous work, we found no evidence for preferential access to awareness of sad vs. happy faces. Taken together, our results indicate that MDD-related perceptual biases in emotion recognition reflect the current clinical state rather than a stable depressive trait.
Highlights
Current concepts of depression are largely based on cognitive theories [1] according to which depression is characterized by a negative bias in perception
In the emotion recognition task, patients with major depression showed a shift in the criterion for the differentiation between sad and happy faces: In comparison to healthy controls, patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) required a greater intensity of the happy expression to recognize a face as happy
Scores of Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) were significantly higher in the patient group compared to the healthy control group
Summary
Current concepts of depression are largely based on cognitive theories [1] according to which depression is characterized by a negative bias in perception. In line with this notion, there is substantial empirical evidence showing that perception in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterized by blunted responsiveness to emotionally positive information as PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0129863. Emotion Recognition in Major Depressive Disorder role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript In line with this notion, there is substantial empirical evidence showing that perception in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterized by blunted responsiveness to emotionally positive information as PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0129863 June 3, 2015
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
