Emotion recognition in chronic treatment-resistant depression : before and after neurosurgical treatment

Depression, Mental--Treatment;Emotional intelligence;Psychosurgery

Grant, Frazer Alexander Lockhart ; Sprengelmeyer, Reiner ; Sprengelmeyer, Reiner

University:University of St Andrews

Department:Psychology & Neuroscience (School of)

关键词: Depression, Mental--Treatment;    Emotional intelligence;    Psychosurgery;   

Others  :  https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/10023/4213/FrazerGrantMPhilThesis.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y

来源: DR-NTU

【 摘 要 】

The neuroanatomical structures underlying Major DepressiveDisorder (MDD) are not fully understood. Invasive treatment optionsnow exist that target the brain structures associated with MDD.In part one of this study, the effects of MDD on emotionprocessing are being measured and discussed. Emotion processingwas examined in patients with chronic, treatment resistantdepression (n = 15) and a healthy control group (n = 38). Emotionprocessing abilities were impaired in the MDD group, especiallythose of disgust recognition.In part two, seven of the fifteen MDD patients that had receivedan Anterior Cingulotomy (ACING) and eight of the fifteen MDDpatients that had received a Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) as anintervention for chronic, treatment resistant depression werepresented with the same series of emotional processing tasks givenin part one. Their post surgical performance was compared with theirpre surgical performance. After surgery, the ACING group showeddecreased emotion processing abilities and the VNS group showedimprovements.Findings suggest that emotional functions assumed to beassociated with certain neural structures that are adversely affectedin patients with MDD may be responsible for some of the clinicalfeatures of MDD.