Facial emotion recognition in a sample of psychotic depressives from Anambra state Nigeria

2016 IJRSP – Volume 5 Issue 2

Author/s:

Ucheagwu, Valentine A.*
Department of Psychology, Anambra State University, Igbariam, Nigeria (afamval@yahoo.com)

Udoh, Felix U.
College Liberal Arts, St. John University, New York, USA

Ugokwe-Ossai, Rita N.
Department of Psychology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria

Ezeokana, Jude O.
Department of Psychology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria

Ossai, Jesse P.
Psychiatric Rehabilitation Centre, Obosi, Nigeria

Abstract:

The abilities to produce and recognize facial expressions of affects are important components of interpersonal communication in humans and primates. The present study was on facial affect (emotion) recognitions in psychotic depressives. Similar studies in the past had focused on schizophrenic group and depressed without psychotic features group. Forty two participants (21 psychotic depressives [PDP] and 21 normal controls [NC]) recruited from the community rehabilitation center and the department of psychology, Madonna University respectively, all in Anambra state controlling for gender were used for the study. Eight pairs of computer generated adult human faces showing emotions of happiness, sadness, anger, surprise, shame, excitement, fear and shy were used to examine the groups on their recognition abilities of the emotions. Gender differences in responses were also studied while age was controlled through covariance method. Between group design was used for the study while multiple analysis of covariate (MANCOVA) was used for data analysis. The findings showed no significant differences between the groups on the recognitions of emotions studied except emotions of shame, excitement and shy. Similarly, gender differences were found on the recognitions of emotions of anger and sadness. Part of the study did not support some previous studies that significant differences existed between psychiatric groups and normal controls on the recognition of basic emotions, although part of the study supported the findings on differences in secondary emotions between psychiatric groups and normal controls. Conversely, the present findings supported recent studies on gender differences in face recognition irrespective of groups. Further studies are needed to understand the differences between basic and secondary emotions in psychiatric patients that accounted for the major contributions of the study.

Keywords: emotions; facial; affects; psychotic depressives

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrsp.2016.1293

*Corresponding Author