Work

Biased Facial-Emotion Perception in Mental Health Disorders: A Possible Target for Psychological Intervention?

Year: 2017

Type: article

Abstract: Our perception of emotion in the faces of others affects our own behavior and mood. Indeed, individuals with mood disorders such as depression and aggression often show biases in facial-emotion perception. Here, we review recent and ongoing research suggesting that biased emotion perception may be on the causal pathway of the onset and maintenance of mood disorders, and hence a potential target for intervention. Simple cognitive-bias modification tasks that change participants’ perception of facial expressions of emotion have shown some promise as a therapeutic technique. We outline further directions for continued research investigating the robustness and clinical impact of emotion-bias modification in real-world settings.

Source: Current Directions in Psychological Science

DOI: 10.1177/0963721417704405

Authors: Ian S. Penton-Voak, Marcus R. Munafò, Chung Yen Looi

Institutions: University of Bristol, MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Cambridge Cognition (United Kingdom)

Language: English

Topic: Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: Medical Research Council, Innovate UK