Facial Emotion Recognition in Patients With Euthymic Bipolar Disorder I and II

The facial emotion recognition is a basic social skill for successful social interactions. Several meta-analyses and recent studies found impairments of the perception of facial emotions in patients with euthymic bipolar disorder. Few studies compared recognition of facial emotions impairments during euthymia in patients with bipolar disorder type 1 and 2. These studies included low population samples (N\<60). There were discrepancies in results of these studies. Szanto suggested that facial emotion recognition impairments were correlated with suicidal risk and social isolation. These impairments should be taking into account regarding psycho-social treatments in patients with bipolar disorder. This study aims to evaluate facial emotion recognition in patients with bipolar I and II disorders compared to healthy controls, using the facial emotion recognition test (TREF). The objective of the present study is to compare TREF scores in a group of patients with bipolar 1, a group of patients with bipolar 2 disorder and a group with healthy controls. In addition, the investigators will investigate the relationships between TREF scores and levels of self-esteem and mental well-being.