Sensitivity to emotion
Average sensitivity to each emotion for patients
and controls is shown in Fig. 1. Independent
samples t-tests revealed no between group difference
in terms of sensitivity to any of the six
emotions (p > 0.09).
Exploratory analyses
The effect of residual mood symptoms on outcome
measures in the patient group was assessed by
examining the correlation between HAM-D and
YMRS scores and sensitivity to each emotion. No
significant correlations were observed (p > 0.10
for HAM-D and p > 0.26 for YMRS).
The effects of antidepressant medication on the
perception of facial expressions of emotion was
also ascertained. However, no differences were
found between those patients taking antidepressants
(n ¼ 6)and those who were not (n ¼ 11)in
terms of either accuracy of emotion recognition
(p > 0.08)or sensitivity to emotion (p > 0.14