Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 1041413

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I have a weird theory

Posted by Michael Bell on March 31, 2013, at 1:50:03

Like my subject says, I have a weird theory. I think that faulty interpretation of facial expressions is linked to social anxiety. I think that people born blind or who became blind before the normal age of when social anxiety begins have a vastly diminished chance of becoming socially phobic. I wonder if this has ever been studied?

 

Re: I have a weird theory » Michael Bell

Posted by SLS on March 31, 2013, at 2:09:56

In reply to I have a weird theory, posted by Michael Bell on March 31, 2013, at 1:50:03

> Like my subject says, I have a weird theory. I think that faulty interpretation of facial expressions is linked to social anxiety. I think that people born blind or who became blind before the normal age of when social anxiety begins have a vastly diminished chance of becoming socially phobic. I wonder if this has ever been studied?

People with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) have a faulty interpretation of facial expressions. It is biased towards sadness and against happiness and fear. This has been confirmed using fMRI. Impairment of facial expression recognition is more prevalent in MDD than it is in anxiety disorders.


- Scott

 

Re: I have a weird theory

Posted by Phillipa on March 31, 2013, at 9:50:58

In reply to Re: I have a weird theory » Michael Bell, posted by SLS on March 31, 2013, at 2:09:56

My Son is legally blind. I don't think he's changed now in any way. I am boosted when see happy faces. When someone else is down I find it effects me. I like happy people. Too many bad things in the world. I see a smiley face and makes me feel like the person is glad to see me boosting mood. But I think that actions of people have more of an influence. Maybe I interpreted this wrong? Phillipa

 

Re: I have a weird theory

Posted by poser938 on March 31, 2013, at 19:10:29

In reply to Re: I have a weird theory, posted by Phillipa on March 31, 2013, at 9:50:58

I've read that SSRIs decrease activity in the Amygalda section of the brain. And that the amygalda is used to recognize facial expressions. Therefore supposively when activity in this part of the brain is reduced, there is less anxiety.

 

Re: I have a weird theory » poser938

Posted by Phillipa on March 31, 2013, at 20:40:02

In reply to Re: I have a weird theory, posted by poser938 on March 31, 2013, at 19:10:29

It's interesting Phillipa

 

Re: I have a weird theory » poser938

Posted by SLS on March 31, 2013, at 23:28:55

In reply to Re: I have a weird theory, posted by poser938 on March 31, 2013, at 19:10:29

Empirical evidence often trumps theory.


- Scott


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http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0015058

Abstract

Background

Recognition of others' emotions is an important aspect of interpersonal communication. In major depression, a significant emotion recognition impairment has been reported. It remains unclear whether the ability to recognize emotion from facial expressions is also impaired in anxiety disorders. There is a need to review and integrate the published literature on emotional expression recognition in anxiety disorders and major depression.
Methodology/Principal Findings

A detailed literature search was used to identify studies on explicit emotion recognition in patients with anxiety disorders and major depression compared to healthy participants. Eighteen studies provided sufficient information to be included. The differences on emotion recognition impairment between patients and controls (Cohen's d) with corresponding confidence intervals were computed for each study. Over all studies, adults with anxiety disorders had a significant impairment in emotion recognition (d = −0.35). In children with anxiety disorders no significant impairment of emotion recognition was found (d = −0.03). Major depression was associated with an even larger impairment in recognition of facial expressions of emotion (d = −0.58).

Conclusions/Significance

Results from the current analysis support the hypothesis that adults with anxiety disorders or major depression both have a deficit in recognizing facial expression of emotions, and that this deficit is more pronounced in major depression than in anxiety.


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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18226491

J Anxiety Disord. 2008 Oct;22(7):1120-7. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2007.11.010. Epub 2007 Dec 3.
The role of trait anxiety in the recognition of emotional facial expressions.
Cooper RM, Rowe AC, Penton-Voak IS.
Source

Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Bristol, 12a Priory Road, Bristol, UK. robbie.cooper@bris.ac.uk
Abstract

Previous work has suggested that elevated levels of trait anxiety are associated with an increased ability to accurately recognize the facial expression of fear. However, to date, recognition has only been assessed after viewing periods of 10s, despite the fact that the process of emotion recognition from faces typically takes a fraction of this time. The current study required participants with either high or low levels of non-clinical trait anxiety to make speeded emotional classification judgments to a series of facial expressions drawn from seven emotional categories. Following previous work it was predicted that recognition of fearful facial expressions would be more accurate in the high-trait anxious group compared with the low-trait anxious group. However, contrary to this prediction, no anxiety-related differences in emotion perception were observed across all seven emotions. This suggests that anxiety does not influence the perception of fear as has been previously proposed.

PMID:
18226491
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Re: I have a weird theory

Posted by poser938 on April 1, 2013, at 14:03:15

In reply to Re: I have a weird theory » poser938, posted by SLS on March 31, 2013, at 23:28:55

http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleID=1268247

I couldn't copy and paste this because my tablet computer won't let me copy from certain websites.

But I believe that even though dopamine increasing meds and serotinin increasing have very different effects on the emotions, they can often to the same basic end result when treating depression.

For example, the first med I was ever prescribed was adderall. Immediately I felt way more in touch with people and the world
around me. My thoughts were much louder and it seemed if I looked someone in their eyes I could hear their thoughts in my head. It was so cool. And I was just able to make so much sense out of the way people acted. This led to a great reduction in anxiety.

On the other hand, when I took prozac it made me feel a bit less in touch with people and the world and my emotions. Thisalso decreased my anxiety, but not as much as adderall.

 

Re: I have a weird theory » poser938

Posted by former poster on April 9, 2013, at 15:57:32

In reply to Re: I have a weird theory, posted by poser938 on April 1, 2013, at 14:03:15

I have often wondered about cultural etiquette and its effect on health. Some cultures smile much more than others. Also different rules apply for eye contact. Look at the difference between Asian countries compared to New Yorkers, etc..

Any studies on the effects of nationwide smiling?

Maybe we need a new holiday? "Smile Day"?


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