OBJECTIVE: This study compared the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), existential psychotherapy (ExP) and supportive counseling (SUP) on facial emotion recognition among mildly and moderately depressed patients. METHODS: 21 patients for CBT, and 20 each for ExP and SUP groups with 60 healthy controls were investigated. Eight consecutive weekly sessions and following two monthly boosters were performed. Prior to the sessions, all subjects received Sociodemographic Data Form, the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-1), and Facial Emotion Recognition Test (FERT). Patients received Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and FERT at the onset and after weekly and booster sessions. RESULTS: Patients' ability to recognize surprised and neutral emotions were lower than controls. ExP group improved recognition of almost all emotions, CBT group improved only happy emotions and SUP group did not improve any emotions. HDRS scores declined in all patient groups, ExP and CBT groups had lower scores than SUP. CONCLUSION: MDD patients recognized surprised and neutral emotions lower than controls. ExP improved ability to recognize almost all emotions, CBT improved only happy emotions, SUP did not improve at all. ExP, CBT and SUP all led to a reduction in MDD. ExP and CBT had comparable effects and both were more helpful than SUP.
Cognitive Therapy ; Counseling ; Depression ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Humans ; Psychotherapy

Background: The effects of housing conditions on animal physiology, behavior or stress are still debated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of three different housing systems, individually ventilated cages (IVC), classical small cages with floor surface area of 500 cm2 (CC500) and classical large cages with floor surface area of 800 cm2 (CC800) on body weight, sensory-motor performances, depression-like behavior, plasma corticosterone and brain oxidative stress parameters in C57BL/6 mice. The mice housed in one of the cages from birth to 6 months of age. Hang wire and adhesive removal tests were performed to evaluate somatosensory and motor performances. The extent of depression was determined by the forced swim test. Blood corticosterone levels were measured. In addition, brain malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS) levels were analyzed. Results: The depression-like behavior of the groups was similar. Although there were no significant differences in hang wire test among groups, CC500 group required longer durations in adhesive removal test. The body weight and plasma corticosterone levels of CC800 group were significantly higher than other groups. The oxidative stress parameters were highest in CC500 cage. Conclusions Our study showed that the least stressful housing condition was IVC cage systems. Interestingly, the number of mice in the classical cages had a significant effect on stress levels and sensory-motor performance.