BACKGROUND: Though potential differences in postpartum and nonpostpartum major depression have major implications for the etiology and treatment of both disorders, these differences have not been clearly delineated. Emotion theory presents a potentially important framework for understanding these differences. METHODS: The current study examined the performance of 65 postpartum depressed, 65 nonpostpartum depressed, and 65 healthy control women on two facial recognition tasks. RESULTS: Postpartum and nonpostpartum participants performed worse on the recognition of emotions of happiness and fear when compared to controls on both tasks. Participants with postpartum depression showed a greater impairment on both disgust and anger when compared to participants with nonpostpartum depression; participants with nonpostpartum depression showed greater impairment on happiness when compared to postpartum depression. CONCLUSION: Postpartum and nonpostpartum depression may impair facial expression recognition differently. Results are discussed in terms of limitations and clinical implications.
BACKGROUND: Though potential differences in postpartum and nonpostpartum major depression have major implications for the etiology and treatment of both disorders, these differences have not been clearly delineated. Emotion theory presents a potentially important framework for understanding these differences. METHODS: The current study examined the performance of 65 postpartum depressed, 65 nonpostpartum depressed, and 65 healthy control women on two facial recognition tasks. RESULTS: Postpartum and nonpostpartum participants performed worse on the recognition of emotions of happiness and fear when compared to controls on both tasks. Participants with postpartum depression showed a greater impairment on both disgust and anger when compared to participants with nonpostpartum depression; participants with nonpostpartum depression showed greater impairment on happiness when compared to postpartum depression. CONCLUSION: Postpartum and nonpostpartum depression may impair facial expression recognition differently. Results are discussed in terms of limitations and clinical implications.
Authors: Andrée M Cusi; Anthony Nazarov; Katherine Holshausen; Glenda M Macqueen; Margaret C McKinnon Journal: J Psychiatry Neurosci Date: 2012-05 Impact factor: 6.186