Oral contraceptives may alter the detection of emotions in facial expressions

Danielle A Hamstra; Mischa De Rover; Roel H De Rijk; Willem Van der Does

doi:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2014.08.015

Oral contraceptives may alter the detection of emotions in facial expressions

Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2014 Nov;24(11):1855-9. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2014.08.015. Epub 2014 Sep 1.

Authors

Danielle A Hamstra¹, Mischa De Rover², Roel H De Rijk³, Willem Van der Does⁴

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Psychology, Clinical Psychology Department, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden, The Netherlands.
² Institute of Psychology, Clinical Psychology Department, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden, The Netherlands; Leiden Institute of Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, The Netherlands.
³ Institute of Psychology, Clinical Psychology Department, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden, The Netherlands; DynaCorts Therapeutics, Leidschendam, The Netherlands.
⁴ Institute of Psychology, Clinical Psychology Department, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden, The Netherlands; Leiden Institute of Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, The Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands. Electronic address: vanderdoes@fsw.leidenuniv.nl.

PMID: 25224104
DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2014.08.015

Abstract

A possible effect of oral contraceptives on emotion recognition was observed in the context of a clinical trial with a corticosteroid. Users of oral contraceptives detected significantly fewer facial expressions of sadness, anger and disgust than non-users. This was true for trial participants overall as well as for those randomized to placebo. Although it is uncertain whether this is an effect of oral contraceptives or a pre-existing difference, future studies on the effect of interventions should control for the effects of oral contraceptives on emotional and cognitive outcomes.

Keywords: Emotion recognition; Estrogen; Oral contraceptives; Progesterone.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
Contraceptives, Oral / pharmacology*
Emotions*
Facial Expression*
Female
Fludrocortisone / pharmacology
Humans
Recognition, Psychology / drug effects*

Substances

Anti-Inflammatory Agents
Contraceptives, Oral
Fludrocortisone