Facial recognition deficits as a potential endophenotype in bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder (BD) is considered a highly heritable and genetically complex disorder. Several cognitive functions, such as executive functions and verbal memory have been suggested as promising candidates for endophenotypes. Although there is evidence for deficits in facial emotion recognition in individuals with BD, studies investigating these functions as endophenotypes are rare. The current study investigates emotion recognition as a potential endophenotype in BD by comparing 36 BD participants, 24 of their 1st degree relatives and 40 healthy control participants in a computerised facial emotion recognition task. Group differences were evaluated using repeated measurement analysis of co-variance with age as a covariate. Results revealed slowed emotion recognition for both BD and their relatives. Furthermore, BD participants were less accurate than healthy controls in their recognition of emotion expressions. We found no evidence of emotion specific differences between groups. Our results provide evidence for facial recognition as a potential endophenotype in BD.
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, PO Box 4345, Christchurch, New Zealand. Electronic address: esther.vierck@otago.ac.nz.
Esther
E
Vierck
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, PO Box 4345, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Richard J
RJ
Porter
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, PO Box 4345, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Peter R
PR
Joyce
D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D058068:Endophenotypes; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology; D005149:Facial Expression; D000066499:Facial Recognition / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
Bipolar disorder; Cognition; Emotion recognition; Endophenotype