title: Effects of emotion perception training on mood in undergraduate students: randomised controlled trial.
abstract: We investigated the effects of emotion perception training on depressive symptoms and mood in young adults reporting high levels of depressive symptoms (trial registration: ISRCTN02532638). Participants were randomised to an intervention procedure designed to increase the perception of happiness over sadness in ambiguous facial expressions or a control procedure, and completed self-report measures of depressive symptoms and mood. Those in the intervention condition had lower depressive symptoms and negative mood at 2-week follow-up, but there was no statistical evidence for a difference. There was some evidence for increased positive mood. Modification of emotional perception may lead to an increase in positive affect.
authors.affiliation: School of Experimental Psychology, 12a Priory Road, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Ian S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Penton-Voak
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bate
authors.forename: Glyn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Marcus R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Munafò
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology / Q000379:methods*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult