Facial emotion processing and bipolar disorder

MAPrc researchers Dr Tamsyn Van Rheenen and Professor Susan Rossell recently published a study examining how facial emotions are processed by people with bipolar disorder. According to the study, those with bipolar disorder have difficulty in recognizing and discriminating facial emotions. Perception of emotion from facial information is vital for effective social and relational functioning and misinterpretation of emotional expressions can reduce appropriate social communication. Future studies will consider whether differences in facial emotion processing have an impact on the psychosocial burden experienced by people with bipolar disorder.