Deficits in recognition, identification, and discrimination of facial emotions in patients with bipolar disorder

Objective: To analyze the recognition, identification, and discrimination of facial emotions in a sample of outpatients with bipolar disorder (BD). Methods: Forty-four outpatients with diagnosis of BD and 48 matched control subjects were selected. Both groups were assessed with tests for recognition (Emotion Recognition-40 - ER40), identification (Facial Emotion Identification Test - FEIT), and discrimination (Facial Emotion Discrimination Test - FEDT) of facial emotions, as well as a theory of mind (ToM) verbal test (Hinting Task). Differences between groups were analyzed, controlling the influence of mild depressive and manic symptoms. Results: Patients with BD scored significantly lower than controls on recognition (ER40), identification (FEIT), and discrimination (FEDT) of emotions. Regarding the verbal measure of ToM, a lower score was also observed in patients compared to controls. Patients with mild syndromal depressive symptoms obtained outcomes similar to patients in euthymia. A significant correlation between FEDT scores and global functioning (measured by the Functioning Assessment Short Test, FAST) was found. Conclusions: These results suggest that, even in euthymia, patients with BD experience deficits in recognition, identification, and discrimination of facial emotions, with potential functional implications.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Benito,Adolfo, Lahera,Guillermo, Herrera,Sara, Muncharaz,Ramón, Benito,Guillermo, Fernández-Liria,Alberto, Montes,José Manuel
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Associação Brasileira de Psiquiatria 2013
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-44462013000400435
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!