Impairments of Social Interaction in Depressive Disorder

Abstract

represents the internal emotional state (emotion) has also been investigated sufficiently. For instance, Juckel et al. [8][9][10][11][12] conducted a kinematic facial expression analysis by examining different groups of psychiatric patients with a motion detector and found differences in their facial expressions. Within the framework of an emotional induction experiment using "Mr. Bean" sketches, the kinematic detailed analysis of the laughing movement of depressive patients revealed significantly lower speed measures when compared to healthy study participants. In particular, patients with severe depressive symptoms showed the slowest initial speeds in the laughter movements. [13][14][15] Interestingly, the depressive patients also showed slower initial speeds than the healthy subjects. Hypomimia (reduced facial expressions) is considered to be the main characteristic of depressed patients and is discussed as essential for a deficit interactive dynamic. 5 However, the impairments of social interaction skills in depressive patients are diverse. A review by Kupferberg et al. 15 showed that these deficits of social interaction skills manifest themselves in reduced motivation to communicate, lack of cooperativeness, and ultimately dysfunctional interaction behavior. Depression-related alterations in the perception of emotions and emotion processing, as well as cognitive and metacognitive processes have been discussed as being responsible for this. [16][17][18]

Characteristics of House-Tree-Person Drawing Test in Junior High School Students with Depressive Symptoms

“…Additionally, the face is a social characteristic, and reducing facial expressions is regarded as one of the main characteristics of depressed patients and discussed as essential for a deficit interactive dynamic (Wolf et al, 2014). In the aspect of HTP, "omitting expression" is possibly the symbol of the social avoidance, emotional repression, and immaturity during social interaction, which can further compound the problem in social contact and have a negative vicious circle impact on depressed ones (Akinci et al, 2022).…”

Tree Imagery in Drawing Tests for Screening Mental Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

“…The overall unity and coherence of the drawing are crucial, and the reliability and validity are greater relative to speci c characteristics (Swensen, 1968). Overly simple drawings indicate a loss of interest, a strong defense mechanism, a lack of warmth and support, and symptoms that are signi cant in psychiatric disorders (Akinci et al, 2022). Additionally, the absence of elements such as owers, plants, the sun, and clouds has been extensively studied.…”