Gender-specific mechanisms associated with outcome of depression: perception of emotions, coping and interpersonal functioning

We proposed that a negative bias in the perception of facial expressions would affect the way in which deficient coping and interpersonal functioning influenced the risk of persistent depression. Furthermore, we hypothesised that cognitions, coping strategies, and interpersonal functioning would be more likely to contribute to the prediction of outcome of depression among women than among men. At admission, 60 in-patients with major depression judged 12 schematic faces with respect to the emotions that they expressed (fear, happiness, anger, sadness, disgust, surprise, rejection and invitation). In addition, difficulty in assertiveness and social distress, and coping strategies for dealing with stressful events were measured with self-report questionnaires. At admission and 6 weeks later, the severity of depression was evaluated with the Beck Depression Inventory. Women who were inclined to perceive high levels of negative emotions from facial expressions and who reported high levels of social distress at admission were less likely to be improved after 6 weeks. Among women, these high levels of perception of negative emotions and high levels of social distress tended to predict the persistence of depression independently. A propensity to perceive negative facial expressions may underlie the unfavourable course of depression, especially among women, (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.