Facial Emotion Recognition Deficits in Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that affects multiple domains in the lives of affected patients, including social cognition. Research suggests that individuals with schizophrenia often show impairments in facial emotion recognition (FER). FER is a crucial component in the interpretation of other peoples’ intentions in communication, setting the basis for social cognition. This dissertation explores what FER is and its importance, as well as the neural mechanisms that are involved in FER in healthy individuals. Then, the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia are reported, and empirical evidence is provided on FER deficits in schizophrenia. In addition, an examination of the neural mechanisms involved in FER deficits in schizophrenia is presented. Lastly, intervention strategies targeting FER deficits in schizophrenia patients are discussed.