Sun CW, Yan C, Lv QY, Wang YJ, Xiao WY, Wang Y, Yi ZH, Wang JK. Emotion Context Insensitivity is generalized in individuals with major depressive disorder but not in those with subclinical depression.
J Affect Disord 2022;
313:204-213. [PMID:
35777495 DOI:
10.1016/j.jad.2022.06.069]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Depressed individuals experience deficits in emotional reactivity. One well-established theory is the Emotion Context Insensitivity (ECI) theory. To better understand impairments in emotional reactivity, we investigated whether the ECI theory is applicable to anticipatory, consummatory, and remembered affect, in both clinical and subclinical depression.
METHODS
Participants were divided into four groups: Major Depressive Disorder Group (MDD, N = 60), Control Group for MDD (ControlMDD, N = 50), Subclinical Depression Group (SD, N = 56), and Control Group for SD (ControlSD, N = 56). The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory were used to assess the severity of depression and anhedonia symptoms. The Monetary Incentive Delay Task evaluated participants' affective responses towards monetary stimuli.
RESULTS
The MDD group was more insensitive to both monetary reward and loss across most types of affect than was the control group. Compared with the controls, the SD group exhibited lower reactivity in anticipatory positive affect but enhanced reactivity in consummatory positive, anticipatory, and remembered negative affect.
LIMITATIONS
Emotional affect was evaluated by subjective ratings, which may lack objectivity. Additionally, laboratory settings and monetary rewards used in this study may cause the results less generalized to daily life and to other types of rewards.
CONCLUSION
The pattern of emotional reactivity in the MDD group was partly consistent with the ECI theory, whereas the SD group showed greater arousal and instability of emotional reactions. These different patterns could facilitate the understanding of emotional reactivity and develop further treatments across the course of depression.
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