Considering sex differences clarifies the effects of depression on facial emotion processing during fMRI.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Sex differences in emotion processing may play a role in women's increased risk for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). However, studies of sex differences in brain mechanisms involved in emotion processing in MDD (or interactions of sex and diagnosis) are sparse.

Methods

We conducted an event-related fMRI study examining the interactive and distinct effects of sex and MDD on neural activity during a facial emotion perception task. To minimize effects of current affective state and cumulative disease burden, we studied participants with remitted MDD (rMDD) who were early in the course of the illness. In total, 88 individuals aged 18-23 participated, including 48 with rMDD (32 female) and 40 healthy controls (HC; 25 female).

Results

fMRI revealed an interaction

SUBMITTER: Jenkins LM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5626645 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature