
Antidepressants: Certain medications can cause flat affect as evidenced in a 2017 study where more than 3000 participants were reviewed. While flat affect is commonly linked with schizophrenia, there might be other causes of flat affect as well. While there may be a lack of evidence to prove what exactly causes flat affect, researchers believe that your brain’s chemical imbalance may be a contributing factor. Indifferent body language, gestures, or body cues. Some common signs of flat affect can include: Facial paralysis or muscle disorders: Muscle disorders or facial paralysis may prevent some people from displaying the emotions they feel.I mean, imagine what your loved ones would feel if they threw you a surprise party and instead of meeting with a pleasantly shocked and excited reaction, they’re met with a bored or indifferent one?. Side effects of medications: Some medications like antidepressants and seizure drugs may impact affect. Two other common causes of flat affect are not the result of altered brain activity. The resulting condition causes a variety of symptoms, including depression, anxiety, emotional withdrawal, and flat affect. Posttraumatic stress disorder : This disorder is common in individuals who have experienced a significant event which was perceived as traumatic.
These include depressed mood, loss of interest in things that typically produce pleasure, and flat affect. Brain damage: Injuries, such as a traumatic brain injury, can cause a variety of symptoms.This can lead to symptoms including flat affect. Depression : The chemical imbalances of depression may interfere with proper brain function.Some people with autism appear to have little emotional reaction to activities. Autism : Flat affect is common in people with an autism spectrum disorder.Some people with schizophrenia report they still experience a wide range of emotions, but they may not show those emotions in the form of facial expressions. Schizophrenia : This disorder affects everything from how a person performs tasks and behaves, to how they feel and react.
Most of the conditions that cause flat affect are related to the brain.