Emotional Disorders Research Articles

Excitatory synaptic transmission is differentially modulated by opioid receptors along the claustro-cingulate pathway.

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) plays a pivotal role in processing pain and emotion, communicating with both cortical and subcortical regions involved in these functions. The claustrum (CLA), a subcortical region with extensive connectivity to the ACC, also plays a critical role in pain perception and consciousness. Both ACC and CLA express Kappa (KOR), Mu (MOR), and Delta (DOR) opioid receptors, yet whether and how opioid receptors modulate this circuit is poorly understood. This study investigates the effects of opioid receptor activation on glutamatergic signaling in CLA-ACC circuitry using spatial transcriptomics, brain slice electrophysiology, optogenetics, and pharmacological approaches in mice of both sexes. Our results demonstrated that excitatory synaptic transmission generated by the CLA onto layer 5 pyramidal cells (L5 PYR) in the ACC are reduced by KOR, MOR, and DOR agonists. However, only KOR agonists reduce monosynaptic transmission from the CLA onto L5 ACC PYR cells, highlighting the unique role of KOR in modulating the CLA-ACC pathway. MOR and DOR agonists only reduced slower, longer-latency recurrent excitatory responses. These findings provide new insights into how opioid receptors regulate the claustro-cingulate circuit and demonstrate the distinct, receptor-specific modulation of synaptic transmission within this network.Significance Statement This study investigates how opioids regulate brain circuits controlling pain and emotions. The claustrum, a brain region that processes sensory and emotional information, sends signals to the anterior cingulate cortex, a key area for pain perception and emotional regulation. By examining how opioid receptors influence these signals, the study reveals how each receptor type modulates circuit activity in distinct ways. These findings are important because they better our understanding of how different opioid receptor subtypes uniquely control different properties of synaptic transmission and brain circuit function, offering insights for developing targeted treatments for pain, emotional disorders, and opioid use disorder. This work advances our ability to understand and manipulate brain circuits involved in complex behaviors.

UNDERSTANDING PRADER-WILLI SYNDROME: FROM MOLECULAR DIAGNOSIS TO THERAPEUTIC INNOVATIONS

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare, multisystem genetic disorder with an epigenetic basis, caused by a lack of paternal gene expression in the region of chromosome 15q11-q13. Key clinical manifestations include severe hypotonia early in life, hyperphagia leading to obesity, short stature, hypogonadism, cognitive impairment, and multiple endocrine disorders such as growth hormone deficiency, hypothyroidism, and central adrenal insufficiency. Hypothalamic dysfunction plays a central role in the pathogenesis of PWS, responsible for many somatic and behavioral symptoms, including disorders of satiety, temperature regulation, sleep, and emotion. Obesity and its complications - including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease - are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in this group of patients. Molecular diagnosis is mainly based on DNA methylation analysis, which allows detection of all types of genetic alterations in PWS. Currently, there is no causal treatment for the syndrome, and effective management requires a multidisciplinary approach including hormonal treatment, strict dietary control, behavioral interventions, rehabilitation, and possibly pharmacotherapy and new therapeutic options such as GLP-1 agonists, topiramate, oxytocin, naltrexone-bupropion, and matfromin.

The Transdiagnostic Processes of Emotional Symptoms Scale (TPESS): Development of a Measure of Core Cognitive Risk to Emotional Disorders.

Cognitive processes are conceptualized as critical etiological factors in emotional disorders, and the transdiagnostic perspective highlights the value of investigating common cognitive risk mechanisms. We developed the Transdiagnostic Processes of Emotional Symptoms Scale (TPESS), a self-report questionnaire designed to assess a transdiagnostic cognitive risk factor. Across two studies, the TPESS was constructed and validated based on two Singaporean college student samples and a community sample from the United States (total N = 1,937). The TPESS exhibited measurement invariance across national samples, gender, and time. Evidence for reliability and validity for the TPESS was generally excellent, though discriminant validity in relation to closely aligned constructs was weaker in the U.S. sample. TPESS demonstrated incremental and unique predictive validity of various emotional symptoms and diagnoses, even after accounting for other risk factors (e.g., personality traits, emotion dysregulation). Taken together, TPESS is a promising instrument for assessing a transdiagnostic cognitive risk of emotional distress.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Emotional Mental Disorder Among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Emotional mental health issues among university students have shown an increasing trend over time, reaching concerning levels when compared to the general population. Early detection is very important for the university as an early intervention to improve students’ mental health. This study used an analytic observational design with a cross-sectional approach. A total of 1564 students from 10 faculties of Sriwijaya University filled in the SRQ-29 questionnaire online via social media from January 2020 – 27 August 2020. The obtained data were analyzed using the Mann Whitney, Chi-Square, and Binary Logistic Regression Test with a significance value of p<0.05. As much as 56.6% of the students experienced symptoms of neurosis, 75.6% had symptoms of PTSD, 55% had psychotic symptoms, while 1.2% had symptoms of substance abuse. Students with a history of chronic disease are more susceptible to experience emotional mental disorders (86%). Gender, faculty, domicile, history of chronic disease and history of mental disorders in the family significantly affected emotional disorders (p <0.05). Universities need to provide mental health facilities that are managed by professionals and ensure the confidentiality of data in their environment.Permasalahan kesehatan mental emosional di kalangan mahasiswa menunjukkan kecenderungan yang semakin meningkat dari waktu ke waktu, bahkan pada tingkat yang mengkhawatirkan jika dibandingkan dengan populasi umum. Deteksi dini sangat penting bagi universitas sebagai intervensi dini untuk meningkatkan kesehatan mental mahasiswa. Penelitian ini menggunakan desain observasional analitik dengan pendekatan cross sectional. Sebanyak 1564 mahasiswa dari 10 fakultas Universitas Sriwijaya mengisi kuesioner SRQ-29 secara online melalui media sosial dari Januari 2020 – 27 Agustus 2020. Data yang diperoleh dianalisis menggunakan Mann Whitney, Chi-Square, dan Uji Regresi Logistik Biner dengan nilai signifikansi p<0,05. Sebanyak 56,6% siswa mengalami gejala neurosis, 75,6% mengalami gejala PTSD, 55% mengalami gejala psikotik, sedangkan 1,2% mengalami gejala penyalahgunaan zat. Mahasiswa dengan riwayat penyakit kronis lebih rentan mengalami gangguan mental emosional (86%). Jenis kelamin, fakultas, domisili, riwayat penyakit kronis dan riwayat gangguan jiwa dalam keluarga berpengaruh signifikan terhadap gangguan emosi (p<0,05). Perguruan tinggi perlu menyediakan fasilitas kesehatan jiwa yang dikelola secara profesional dan menjamin kerahasiaan data di lingkungannya.

Brief group adaptation of the Unified Protocol for integrated primary care: Open trial of a transdiagnostic intervention delivered via telehealth.

There is a pressing need to scale up access to evidence-based mental health treatment. Offering transdiagnostic treatments that accommodate a variety of presenting concerns and comorbidities in integrated primary care settings via group format and telehealth modalities can help to efficiently increase access to care. To meet this need, we refined a brief group adaptation of the Unified Protocol for the transdiagnostic treatment of emotional disorders, called managing stress and emotions (MSE), which was modified for feasibility in integrated primary care settings and telehealth delivery. MSE comprises five 60-min classes emphasizing experiential skills-based learning. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of MSE while preliminarily evaluating effectiveness. We conducted an open trial with 18 patients (33% female, 89% White, Mage = 47 years) experiencing anxiety, depression, or adjustment difficulties who were recruited from Veterans Health Administration primary care. Using mixed methods, we assessed mental health symptoms and functioning from pre- to posttreatment and 3-month follow-up as well as treatment feasibility, acceptability, and satisfaction. MSE was feasible (89% engaged), and patients reported high treatment satisfaction. Pre- to posttreatment changes were promising, with medium-to-large effect sizes, and treatment gains generally remained stable at 3-months. Mixed methods data showed increased awareness of emotions and more use of adaptive coping strategies after MSE. Findings suggest further research evaluating effectiveness and implementation is warranted, as this is the briefest version of group Unified Protocol that has been tested thus far and can help to efficiently increase access to mental health treatment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

COGNITIVE AND EMOTIONAL CONSEQUENCES OF HIV: A PSYCHONEUROIMMUNOLOGY REVIEW

HIV infection, historically known for its devastating impact on the immune system, is now increasingly recognized for its effects on cognitive function and emotional well-being. The intersection of HIV, brain health, and mental disorders forms a critical area of study within the field of psychoneuroimmunology, which explores how the immune and nervous systems interact. Even in the era of effective antiretroviral therapy (ART), many individuals living with HIV continue to experience neurocognitive impairments and psychiatric symptoms, indicating that viral suppression alone is insufficient to prevent central nervous system (CNS) complications. Cognitive impairments such as memory loss, decreased attention span, and executive dysfunction fall under the umbrella of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND), which persist in a significant portion of patients despite virologic control. Contributing mechanisms include chronic immune activation, neuroinflammation, bloodbrain barrier disruption, and the presence of viral reservoirs within the CNS. At the same time, emotional disorders like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are prevalent among people living with HIV, often linked to both biological and psychosocial factors. These conditions not only reduce quality of life but also affect treatment adherence and immune recovery.

When and Under What Circumstances Does Neuroticism Change in the Unified Protocol?

Neuroticism is associated with a range of psychopathology and targeted by the Unified Protocol (UP). Although the UP has led to reductions in neuroticism, it is unclear when these reductions occur and if greater reductions occur in response to a personalized sequence of skills. Method Seventy adult participants (M age = 33.74, 67% female, 74% White) with an emotional disorder were randomized to (a) receive UP modules in an order that capitalized on their strengths, compensated for their deficits, or a standard order and (b) receive 6 or 12 sessions of treatment. We conducted piecewise hierarchical linear regression models to test if specific sequencing or duration conditions led to greater reductions in neuroticism. Results Changes in neuroticism did not significantly differ between the treatment duration conditions over the first six sessions, however, those in the full treatment condition exhibited significantly greater reductions in neuroticism from weeks 7-12. When controlling for depressive and anxiety symptoms, there were no significant changes in neuroticism in the first six sessions. Those in the full treatment condition demonstrated significant reductions in neuroticism from sessions 7-12. Conclusion Brief treatment may exhibit state-level changes in neuroticism, but a more extensive course may be needed for lasting trait change.

Multidimensional normative ratings for the body emotional stimulus set in Bochum Emotional Stimulus Set in Chinese samples.

The body serves as a vital medium for emotional expression. In this study, we aimed to extend the Bochum Emotional Stimulus Set (BESST), which comprises 565 body pictures depicting expressions of neutral emotions and six basic emotions (happiness, sadness, fear, anger, disgust, and surprise). This study included two tasks. One hundred college students (Mage = 18.82; SDage = 0.89) underwent the emotion recognition task of pictures (choose one out of seven emotions) and 103 college students (Mage = 19.83; SDage = 0.84) underwent the rating task of emotional dimensions (motivation, valence, arousal, and dominance; rated on a scale of 1-9). The results showed that: (1) On average, neutrality had the highest recognition rate (94%), followed by sadness (89.04%) and happiness (81.26%), anger (74.03%), disgust (69.61%), fear (67.97%), and surprise (64.45%). (2) The main effects of emotional type in ratings of four dimensions were all significant. Specifically, fear, disgust, and sadness have similar emotional characteristics (withdrawal-motivation, high arousal, low pleasure, and low dominance), and emotions with higher biological relevance (such as disgust) have a greater degree of emotional characteristics. Happiness and anger share similar emotional characteristics, including approach motivation, high arousal, and dominance; however, they represent opposite ends of the valence dimension. (3) There were gender differences in motivation dimension ratings of surprised pictures and arousal dimension ratings of neutral pictures. We provided the recognition rate and rating values for each of the four dimensions for each picture. This set serves as a valuable resource for cross-cultural research and behavioral or clinical studies related to emotional disorders.

Research progress on the association between cardiometabolic risk and emotional disorders in children and adolescents

The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases among children and adolescents continues to escalate, with cardiometabolic risk factors emerging as primary contributors to this concerning trend. Key contributing factors encompass obesity, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. This developmental phase represents a crucial window for both physical maturation and psychological growth. Previous studies have demonstrated significant associations between cardiovascular pathologies and mental health outcomes. Given their immature physiological and psychological regulatory systems, children and adolescents exhibit heightened susceptibility to emotional dysregulation, predominantly manifesting as anxiety disorders and depressive conditions.Current research remains limited in elucidating the complex relationship between cardiometabolic risk profiles and affective disorders within this vulnerable population. Emerging evidence suggests that cardiometabolic disturbances may potentiate the pathogenesis and progression of mood disorders through multifaceted mechanisms including oxidative stress pathways, neuroendocrine system dysregulation, and maladaptive lifestyle patterns. However, substantial gaps persist in our understanding of the precise pathophysiological interactions underlying this association.This comprehensive review systematically examines the interconnection between cardiometabolic risk parameters and emotional disorders in pediatric populations. This article critically evaluate current assessment methodologies, epidemiological patterns, and clinical correlations while proposing mechanistic frameworks that integrate biochemical, neurological, and behavioral pathways. The analysis emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary approaches to address this pressing public health challenge.

Genetic risk-dependent brain markers of resilience to childhood Trauma

Resilience to developing emotional disorders is critical for adolescent mental health, especially following childhood trauma. Yet, brain markers of resilience remain poorly understood. By analyzing brain responses to angry faces in a large-scale longitudinal adolescent cohort (IMAGEN), we identified two functional networks located in the orbitofrontal and occipital regions. In girls with high genetic risks for depression, higher orbitofrontal-related network activation was associated with a reduced impact of childhood trauma on emotional symptoms at age 19, whereas in those with low genetic risks, lower occipital-related network activation had a similar association. These findings reveal genetic risk-dependent brain markers of resilience (GRBMR). Longitudinally, the orbitofrontal-related GRBMR predicted subsequent emotional disorders in late adolescence, which were generalizable to an independent prospective cohort (ABCD). These findings demonstrate that high polygenic depression risk relates to activations in the orbitofrontal network and to resilience, with implications for biomarkers and treatment.

Diabetic distress, low-grade chronic inflammation, and cardiac autonomic neuropathy in internally displaced people (literature review and own observations)

Background. Internally displaced people (IDP) demonstrate an increased susceptibility to cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Negative psycho-traumatic experiences can lead to the development of emotional disorders, which further contribute to the onset of diabetic distress (DD). Psychosocial risk factors for DD are largely associated with the risk of developing cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) and, thus, adverse cardiovascular events. The Type 2 Diabetes Distress Assessment System (T2-DDAS) is the only specialized tool for assessing DD. The purpose: using the Ukrainian version of the T2-DDAS validated by us to assess the level of DD among IDP. Materials and methods. Development and application of a validated Ukrainian-language version of the Composite Autonomic Symptom Score 31 demonstrated that this is an acceptable tool for identifying patients with subclinical CAN. Results. Analysis of the results of short-term heart rate variability (HRV) shows that IDP with T2DM have a more significant suppression of parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) activity and an increase in sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity. This may indicate adaptive reactions that occurred against the background of stressful situations. In addition, HRV changes typical of states of intense neuro-emotional stress were recorded, which may suggest prolonged activation of the SNS. The changes detected indicate an early disturbance of the PSNS, which is one of the first signs of CAN in T2DM. Psychological stress can activate the SNS, which in turn contributes to the development of low-grade chronic inflammation. We have found that IDP with T2DM and subclinical CAN had the most pronounced insulin resistance. In addition, there was a significant increase in the level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor α, as well as the tumor necrosis factor α/interleukin 10 ratio in the blood. Conclusions. Thus, the measurement of short-term HRV in combination with the determination of proinflammatory marker levels provides an opportunity to more accurately assess the risk of developing CAN in patients with T2DM.

Factor Structure, Reliability and Validity of the European Portuguese Version of the Revised Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity index (CASI-R) in a Clinical Sample of School-Aged Children

The present study explored the factor structure, reliability and convergent validity of the Portuguese version of the Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index – Revised (PT-CASI-R) in a clinical sample of school-aged children. A clinical sample of 153 children with emotional disorder symptomatology (i.e., anxiety or depressive disorder; 6-13 years) completed the CASI-R and the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS). A confirmatory factor analysis was performed and the psychometric properties of the CASI-R were assessed. The PT-CASI-R revealed good internal consistency, with a four-factor hierarchical structure. Moderate and strong correlations were found between the CASI-R and RCADS subscales, specifically the “panic disorder” RCADS subscale. Our findings suggest that the PT-CASI-R is a psychometrically valid measure for assessing anxiety sensitivity in Portuguese children with clinical emotional symptoms, between 6 and 13 years old.

The effect of Gua Sha therapy on Parkinson's disease with rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder: a randomized controlled trial.

To observe the clinical efficacy of Gua Sha therapy in treating Parkinson's disease (PD) with rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD). A total of 52 PD patients with RBD were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 26) and the control group (n = 26). The control group was treated with conventional anti-PD drugs, and the experimental group was treated with Gua Sha therapy based on the control group. The RBDQ-HK, PDSS-2, MDS-UPDRSIII, HADS, and PDQ-39 scores were compared before treatment, at the end of 12weeks of treatment, and 2months of follow-up. Before treatment and at the end of 12weeks of treatment, polysomnography (PSG) was performed to record related sleep parameters, and the changes in serum Lp-PLA2, IL-1β, PGE2, Glu and NT-3 were observed. After treatment, the symptoms of sleep disorder, motor function, emotional disorder, and quality of life in the experimental group were significantly improved, the levels of Lp-PLA2, IL-1β, and PGE2 were decreased, the levels of Glu and NT-3 were increased, and the curative effect was better than that in the control group (P < 0.05). No serious adverse events occurred. The efficacy of Gua Sha therapy in the treatment of PD with RBD is precise and has good safety, which is worthy of clinical application.

SEEG Emotion Recognition Based on Transformer Network With Channel Selection and Explainability.

Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology for emotion recognition holds significant potential for future applications in the treatment of refractory emotional disorders. Stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG), being less invasive, can precisely record neural activities originating from the cortex and the deep structures of the brain. Thus, it has broad application prospects in constructing emotion recognition BCI. In this study, SEEG data from nine subjects were collected to construct an emotion dataset, and a Spatial Transformer-based Hybrid Network (STHN) was proposed for SEEG emotion recognition. The triple-classification accuracy of STHN reached 83.56%, outperforming the baseline methods such as EEGNet, TSception, and the deep convolution neural network. Moreover, STHN can assign weights to each SEEG channel and select those channels that contribute more significantly to emotion recognition. It was found that when using the top 30% weighted SEEG channels as model inputs, the accuracy did not decrease significantly. Most of the channels with higher weights were located in brain regions strongly associated with emotions, such as the frontal lobe, the temporal lobe, and the hippocampus. This indicates that STHN is not merely a "black-box" model but possesses a degree of explainability. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to develop an SEEG emotion recognition algorithm, which is expected to play a crucial role in the monitoring and treatment of patients with refractory emotional disorders in the future.

The Effects of Trauma-Informed Check-in, Check-out for Youth With EBD in a Residential Treatment Facility

Students with or at-risk for emotional and behavioral disorders served in residential facilities have been exposed to traumatic events at higher rates compared to their peers. Behavioral interventions may be more effective for this population if they include trauma-informed relationship building adaptations. One intervention that may be modified to include such adaptations is Check-in, Check-out (CICO). A single-case reversal design was used to examine the effects of Trauma-Informed CICO integrating PRIDE Skills in each check-in and out conversation and the substitution of the daily progress report (DPR) with a student guided self-reflection sheet (TI-CICO+SR). Three students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) and a history of prior traumatic exposures residing in a residential treatment facility participated in this study. Findings indicated a functional relation between TI-CICO and increased on-task behavior for all youth participants and a functional relation between TI-CICO+SR and increased on-task behavior for one youth participant. Youth surveys and interviews indicated TI-CICO+SR had higher social validity compared to TI-CICO. Limitations and future research directions are discussed.

Telomere Length and Emotional and Behavioral Problems in Children from the Prospective Birth Cohort INfancia y Medio Ambiente (INMA) Study

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to examine the association between leukocyte telomere length (TL) measured at ages 4 and 8 and emotional and behavioral problems at age 8. We also explored whether changes in leukocyte TL between ages 4 and 8 were associated with outcomes. Methods: Data were obtained from a population-based birth cohort and included 647 children with TL at age 4 and emotional and behavioral assessments at age 8, 673 with TL and outcomes at age 8, and 315 with TL measured at both ages. TL was determined using quantitative PCR on blood samples and converted into z-scores for analysis. Emotional and behavioral problems—including internalizing, externalizing, and total difficulties—were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Regression models were conducted using zero-inflated and negative binomial, adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle covariates. Results: No statistically significant associations were observed between leukocyte TL at ages 4 or 8, or TL changes over this period, and emotional and behavioral outcomes at age 8. Conclusions: Although no significant associations were found, further longitudinal research is warranted to clarify the role of TL as a potential psychobiomarker of emotional and behavioral disorders in childhood.

Psychische Auffälligkeiten und Versorgungslage bei Schülerinnen und Schülern mit Problemverhalten aus dem Autismus-Spektrum (ASS) an Förderschulen Emotionale und soziale Entwicklung (EsE)

Mental Health Problems and Care Situation in Students with Problem Behaviour from the Autism Spectrum (ASD) at Special Schools for Emotional and Behavioral Disorder (EBD) Children Children and adolescents with ASD often require specific support both inside and outside of school. The majority of these children are educated at special schools for emotional and behavioral disorder (EBD). There is no data available on how often ASD problems occur at EBD special schools, what other emotional and behavioral problems are shown, and how the students are supported. In the study, teachers at EBD special schools were surveyed on their pupils' mental health problems, including ASD, and the use of care services (N = 551). 19.0 % were rated as having problems in the autism spectrum, 16.7 % as having slight problems, and 64.3 % as having no problems in the autism spectrum. Pupils with behavioral problems in the autism spectrum were considered to be more affected by symptoms of depression, anxiety, compulsions and tics, among others. The values for functional impairment and distress were also significantly higher. Furthermore, children with elevated scores in the ASD spectrum receive significantly less psychotherapy and significantly more school support and speech therapy. Pupils with ASD symptoms make slightly more use of support services than other children, despite much higher levels of strain. There seems to be a gap in care that is relevant for the adaptation of conditions in schools and medical- and therapeutic services.

Deteksi Dini Kesehatan Mental Emosional Siswa Sekolah Menengah Atas Sebagai Langkah Awal Menciptakan Generasi Unggul

Survey on mental health in adolescents in Indonesia in 2022, 5.5% of adolescents aged 10-17 years experienced mental disorders. Mental health is a state of mental well-being that allows a person to cope with the pressures of life, study well, work well, and contribute to their community. Most of these psychological disorders are not recognized and do not receive proper treatment. The high proportion of depression in the young group, namely the population who at the time of the 2023 SKI was carried out were 15-24 years old or known as Gen Z or the strawberry generation, requires attention. Emotional mental disorders are conditions of individuals who experience emotional changes and in certain circumstances occur over a long period of time can develop and become pathological conditions. The aim is to identify emotional health disorders in adolescents in high school students as an initial step in creating a superior generation. This type of research is quantitative descriptive. The results of the study showed that 70% experienced symptoms of depression, 60% hyperactivity, 40% had peer problems, 64% showed abnormal behavior, 76% showed abnormal prosocial strength. The conclusion is that high school adolescents experience emotional mental health disorders that have an impact on educational achievement.

Evidence of a transdiagnostic cognitive-factor for the assessment of depression and anxiety disorders in primary care patients.

Evidence of a transdiagnostic cognitive-factor for the assessment of depression and anxiety disorders in primary care patients.

Experimental Modeling of Face Emotion Recognition Using Machine Learning Classification (SVM, KNN, Random Forest) and Deep Learning CNN

Facial Emotion Recognition (FER) is a technology that analyzes facial expressions to detect emotions, playing a growing role in psychology and Human-Computer Interaction. In Indonesia, mental health issues are rising, with emotional disorders increasing from 6.0% in 2013 to 9.8% in 2018. Over 19 million people aged 15+ were affected in 2018, a number likely worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the urgency of early detection, FER offers a non-invasive method to help identify mental health issues. It can support timely intervention and promote psychological well-being, especially in under-resourced settings. This study compares several Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) models—SVM, K-Nearest Neighbor, Random Forest, and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN)—to classify facial emotions. The dataset used is the Facial Expression Recognition dataset by Jonathan Oheix from Kaggle. Images were preprocessed and used to train and evaluate each model. Traditional ML models relied on extracted features, while CNN learned features directly from images. Results show that CNN achieved the highest accuracy among the tested models. This suggests that FER, especially with CNN, can be a useful tool for early detection of emotional disorders in mental health contexts.