title: Oral contraceptives may alter the detection of emotions in facial expressions.
abstract: A possible effect of oral contraceptives on emotion recognition was observed in the context of a clinical trial with a corticosteroid. Users of oral contraceptives detected significantly fewer facial expressions of sadness, anger and disgust than non-users. This was true for trial participants overall as well as for those randomized to placebo. Although it is uncertain whether this is an effect of oral contraceptives or a pre-existing difference, future studies on the effect of interventions should control for the effects of oral contraceptives on emotional and cognitive outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Clinical Psychology Department, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Danielle A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Hamstra
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Clinical Psychology Department, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden, The Netherlands; Leiden Institute of Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Mischa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Rover
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Clinical Psychology Department, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden, The Netherlands; DynaCorts Therapeutics, Leidschendam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Roel H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: De Rijk
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Clinical Psychology Department, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden, The Netherlands; Leiden Institute of Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, The Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands. Electronic address: vanderdoes@fsw.leidenuniv.nl.
authors.forename: Willem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Van der Does
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004644:Emotions; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D005438:Fludrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D005438:Fludrocortisone
keywords: Emotion recognition; Estrogen; Oral contraceptives; Progesterone