Effects of antipsychotic treatment on emotion perception deficits in first-episode schizophrenia.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The authors evaluated emotion perception in acutely ill patients experiencing a first episode of schizophrenia. They also investigated the effects of antipsychotic medication on emotion perception.

METHOD:

Tests of the ability to perceive and discriminate emotional expressions from the Penn Computerized Neuropsychological Battery were given to 13 patients experiencing their first episode of schizophrenia. Patients were also assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. The patients were tested while they were unmedicated and again following clinical stabilization. Healthy individuals were evaluated over a similar time interval.

RESULTS:

Patients with first-episode schizophrenia demonstrated impairments in emotion perception before treatment and no significant improvement after treatment. Emotion perception deficits were correlated with negative symptoms after clinical stabilization.

CONCLUSIONS:

Deficits in emotion perception are present at illness onset in schizophrenia and show minimal response to effective antipsychotic treatment.

• Authors: Ellen S Herbener, S Kristian Hill, Robert W Marvin, John A Sweeney
• Journal: The American journal of psychiatry (Am J Psychiatry) Vol. 162 Issue 9 Pg. 1746-8 (Sep 2005) ISSN: 0002-953X [Print] United States
• PMID: 16135639 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Antipsychotic Agents

Topics

• Antipsychotic Agents (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Cognition (drug effects)
• Discrimination, Psychological (drug effects)
• Emotions
• Facial Expression
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Neuropsychological Tests (statistics & numerical data)
• Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
• Schizophrenia (drug therapy)
• Schizophrenic Psychology
• Visual Perception (drug effects)