Re Conditioning the Mood Disordered Mind to Perceive Emotions from Text
In a groundbreaking study published in the British Journal of Clinical Psychology in 2025, a team of German researchers explored the potential of emotion recognition training as a tool for repairing the "social lens" in depression. The research, titled "Training emotion recognition in depression—An experimental study," was led by a group of researchers, with the specific lead name not provided in the available information.
The study focused on a 35-minute computerized training called TERA, which was tested for its ability to improve emotion recognition. Participants in the TERA training group learned the key cues, practiced guessing the emotion, and received instant feedback as they watched short video clips of actors expressing 14 emotions.
After two weeks, the TERA training significantly improved emotion recognition accuracy. However, depression symptoms didn't improve more for the TERA group compared to the control group. This suggests that while emotion recognition training may hold potential, it is not a stand-alone cure for depression.
People with depression often struggle to recognize emotions, and mislabeling others' emotions can negatively impact relationships and recovery. By training the brain to better read emotions, it could plant seeds for stronger connections, where healing often begins. However, repeated sessions, integration into therapy, and follow-up support may be needed to see benefits.
Emotional skills may take longer to affect daily life, and spotting emotions in others doesn't necessarily lead to smoother interactions without practice. For clinicians, this study serves as a reminder of the potential for intervention through cognitive and social skills training. For everyday readers, it shows that misunderstanding others can be a symptom of depression, not a personal failing.
The study took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, limiting real-world opportunities to test new skills. Despite this challenge, the findings highlight the need for repeated practice and real-world transfer to see the full potential of emotion recognition training.
For those interested in learning more, the study can be found in the British Journal of Clinical Psychology, with the reference Preis, M. A., Schlegel, K., Rehbein, S., Lorenz, K., & Brockmeyer, T. (2025). Training emotion recognition in depression-An experimental study. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 64(3), 817-828. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjc.12540
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