Psychiatry Investig.  2019 Jul;16(7):491-503. 10.30773/pi.2019.03.14.

Effects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Existential Psychotherapy and Supportive Counselling on Facial Emotion Recognition Among Patients with Mild or Moderate Depression

• Yılmaz O
• Mırçık
• Kunduz M
• ÇombaÅŸ M
• Öztürk A
• Deveci E
• Kırpınar I

• KMID: 2454718
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.30773/pi.2019.03.14

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This study compared the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), existential psychotherapy (ExP) and supportive counseling (SUP) on facial emotion recognition among mildly and moderately depressed patients.
METHODS
21 patients for CBT, and 20 each for ExP and SUP groups with 60 healthy controls were investigated. Eight consecutive weekly sessions and following two monthly boosters were performed. Prior to the sessions, all subjects received Sociodemographic Data Form, the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-1), and Facial Emotion Recognition Test (FERT). Patients received Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and FERT at the onset and after weekly and booster sessions.
RESULTS
Patients' ability to recognize surprised and neutral emotions were lower than controls. ExP group improved recognition of almost all emotions, CBT group improved only happy emotions and SUP group did not improve any emotions. HDRS scores declined in all patient groups, ExP and CBT groups had lower scores than SUP.
CONCLUSION
MDD patients recognized surprised and neutral emotions lower than controls. ExP improved ability to recognize almost all emotions, CBT improved only happy emotions, SUP did not improve at all. ExP, CBT and SUP all led to a reduction in MDD. ExP and CBT had comparable effects and both were more helpful than SUP.

Keyword

Cognitive behavioral therapy; Depression; Existential psychotherapy; Facial emotion recognition; Supportive counselling

MeSH Terms

Cognitive Therapy*
Counseling
Depression*
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Humans
Psychotherapy*