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Empathic accuracy and oxytocin after tryptophan depletion in adults at risk for depression
- Source :
- Psychopharmacology, Psychopharmacology, 233(1), 111-120. SPRINGER, Psychopharmacology, 233, 1, pp. 111-120, Psychopharmacology, 233, 111-120
- Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- Rationale Major depressive disorder (MDD) has been associated with disturbances in social functioning and in the brain serotonin system. Reduced levels of serotonin may negatively influence social functioning, for example by impairing the recognition of facial emotion expressions. Objectives The present study investigated the effect of acute tryptophan depletion (ATD), which reduces brain serotonin, on a related component of social functioning, empathic accuracy (EA), and oxytocin levels. Methods Individuals with (FH+) and without (FH−) a family history of MDD participated in a randomized, double-blind, crossover study. On two separate test days, participants ingested tryptophan-deficient and nutritionally balanced amino acid mixtures. Six hours later, they performed an EA task, which involved watching videos of people recounting autobiographical emotional events. While watching, participants continuously rated how these people felt during the recounting. Mood state was repeatedly assessed using the Positive Affect and Negative Affect Schedule and a series of visual analogue scales. Blood samples obtained at baseline and 5 h after mixture ingestion were assessed for tryptophan and oxytocin levels. Results ATD decreased circulating levels of tryptophan and oxytocin. Nevertheless, there were no significant effects of ATD on EA or mood in either FH group. Conclusions While previous studies have shown that acute reductions in brain serotonin alter the recognition of facial emotion expressions in never-depressed individuals, the present study suggests that empathic abilities may remain unaffected. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00213-015-4093-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
- Subjects :
- Male
Ecological validity
Emotions
Poison control
Oxytocin
FAMILY-HISTORY
0302 clinical medicine
Cognition
Risk Factors
1ST-DEGREE RELATIVES
Original Investigation
3,4-METHYLENEDIOXYMETHAMPHETAMINE
Cross-Over Studies
Depression
05 social sciences
Tryptophan
Brain
Women's cancers Radboud Institute for Health Sciences [Radboudumc 17]
SOCIAL COGNITION
Major depressive disorder
Female
Clinical psychology
medicine.drug
Adult
medicine.medical_specialty
Serotonin
FACIAL EXPRESSIONS
PROSOCIAL FEELINGS
Affect (psychology)
050105 experimental psychology
03 medical and health sciences
Empathic accuracy
Young Adult
Double-Blind Method
medicine
Humans
0501 psychology and cognitive sciences
Psychiatry
Pharmacology
business.industry
HEALTHY WOMEN
RECOGNITION
MAJOR DEPRESSION
4-METHYLENEDIOXYMETHAMPHETAMINE
medicine.disease
Crossover study
Affect
Mood
MOOD
Empathy
business
030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 00333158
- Volume :
- 233
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Psychopharmacology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....8253d5a1a7e47e2872c159c2d7ac75c2