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Ji JL, Woud ML, Rölver A, Notebaert L, Todd J, Clarke PJF, Meeten F, Margraf J, Blackwell SE. Investigating the role of mental imagery use in the assessment of anhedonia. Cogn Emot 2024:1-19. [PMID: 39330940 DOI: 10.1080/02699931.2024.2405008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 09/11/2024] [Indexed: 09/28/2024]
Abstract
Anhedonia, or a deficit in the liking, wanting, and seeking of rewards, is typically assessed via self-reported "in-the-moment" emotional and motivational responses to reward stimuli and activities. Given that mental imagery is known to evoke emotion and motivational responses, we conducted two studies to investigate the relationship between mental imagery use and self-reported anhedonia. Using a novel Reward Response Scale (adapted from the Dimensional Anhedonia Rating Scale, DARS; Rizvi et al., 2015) modified to assess deliberate and spontaneous mental imagery use, Study 1 (N = 394) compared uninstructed and instructed mental imagery use, and Study 2 (N = 586) conducted a test of replication of uninstructed mental imagery use. Results showed that greater mental imagery use was associated with higher reward response scores (Study 1 & 2), and this relationship was not moderated by whether imagery use was uninstructed or instructed (Study 1). Importantly, mental imagery use moderated the convergence between reward response and depression scale measures of anhedonia, with lower convergence for those reporting higher mental imagery use (Study 1 & 2). Results suggest that higher spontaneous mental imagery use may increase self-reported reward response and reduce the convergence between reward response scale and depression questionnaire measures of anhedonia. [199 / 200 words].
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie L Ji
- School of Psychology, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
- School of Psychological Science, Centre for the Advancement of Research on Emotion, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Marcella L Woud
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, Institute of Psychology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Mental Health Research and Treatment Center, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Angela Rölver
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Lies Notebaert
- School of Psychological Science, Centre for the Advancement of Research on Emotion, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Jemma Todd
- School of Psychological Science, Centre for the Advancement of Research on Emotion, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Perth, Australia
| | | | - Frances Meeten
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | - Jürgen Margraf
- Mental Health Research and Treatment Center, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Simon E Blackwell
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, Institute of Psychology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Mental Health Research and Treatment Center, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Bochum, Germany
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2
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Calafiore C, Collins AC, Bartoszek G, Winer ES. Assessing relinquishment of positivity as a central symptom bridging anxiety and depression. J Affect Disord 2024; 367:38-48. [PMID: 39147161 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.08.031] [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: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 08/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Anxiety and depression are often comorbid and chronic disorders. Previous research indicates that positivity relinquishment is a moderator of anxiety and depression, such that only anxious individuals who endorsed relinquishing positivity were also depressed. We sought to extend those findings by conducting three network analyses with self-report measures of anxiety, depression, activity avoidance, and perceived positivity of avoided activities (N = 104). We pre-registered our hypothesis for the first two networks that relinquishment of positivity would emerge as a central bridge symptom between anxiety and depressive symptoms. After combining redundant nodes, we estimated three networks and investigated the bridge symptoms in each network. Relinquishment of positivity bridged the symptom clusters in the first network, and avoidance of positivity was found to bridge the two symptom clusters of anxiety and depression in networks two and three. Additionally, an anhedonia circuit was uncovered in all three networks in which loss of interest/worthlessness, loss of energy, and loss of pleasure/pessimism connected to anxiety through relinquishment or avoidance. Our findings suggest that both relinquishment of positivity as well as avoidance of positivity could be potential pathways explaining the development and maintenance of anxiety and depression and should be properly targeted in treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camryn Calafiore
- Department of Psychology, The New School for Social Research, 6 E 16(th) St, New York, NY 10003, USA.
| | - Amanda C Collins
- Center for Technology and Behavioral Health, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH 03766, USA; Department of Biomedical Data Science, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH 03766, USA
| | - Gregory Bartoszek
- School of Psychology and Counseling, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ, USA
| | - E Samuel Winer
- Department of Psychology, The New School for Social Research, 6 E 16(th) St, New York, NY 10003, USA
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3
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Han B, Yan J, Liu J, Xiong R, Teng S, Du H, Liu C, Fan H, Ji L, Wang M, Jia L, Lu G. The Effect of Attentional Bias on Emotions in Patients with Breast Cancer. Int J Behav Med 2024:10.1007/s12529-024-10311-4. [PMID: 39138782 DOI: 10.1007/s12529-024-10311-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Attentional bias may influence the emotional experiences of breast cancer patients, both positively and negatively. This study aimed to investigate attentional bias in breast cancer patients and its impact on their emotions. METHOD Thirty-eight breast cancer patients completed a modified dot-probe task and the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale to assess attentional bias and emotional states. Attentional bias was measured by analyzing response times to different stimuli in the modified dot-probe task. Emotional stimuli included 80 pairs of facial images depicting sad-neutral, fearful-neutral, happy-neutral, and neutral-neutral expressions. Attentional bias components were observed at stimulus presentation durations of 300 ms and 1500 ms. Differences in emotional responses among breast cancer patients with varying attentional biases were compared. RESULTS Breast cancer patients exhibited attentional avoidance of sad and happy stimuli at 300 ms. Further analysis revealed that patients who exhibited attentional avoidance of sad stimuli at 300 ms reported higher levels of anxiety and stress. Those with attentional avoidance of fearful stimuli at 1500 ms reported increased anxiety, while individuals showing attentional avoidance of happy stimuli or difficulty disengaging from happy stimuli at 1500 ms reported higher levels of depression and stress. CONCLUSION Breast cancer patients demonstrated an attentional bias toward emotional stimuli, particularly avoidance of sad and happy stimuli in 300 ms. Different components of attentional bias were associated with distinct negative emotional outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingxue Han
- School of Public Health, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Jialin Yan
- School of Psychology, Shandong Second Medical University, No. 7166, Bao Tong West Street, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Jinxia Liu
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Weifang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang, China
| | - Ruoyu Xiong
- School of Psychology, Shandong Second Medical University, No. 7166, Bao Tong West Street, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Shuai Teng
- Psychological Counseling Center, Weifang University, Weifang, China
| | - He Du
- School of Psychology, Shandong Second Medical University, No. 7166, Bao Tong West Street, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Chang Liu
- School of Psychology, Shandong Second Medical University, No. 7166, Bao Tong West Street, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Huaju Fan
- School of Psychology, Shandong Second Medical University, No. 7166, Bao Tong West Street, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Lili Ji
- Department of Medical Nursing, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Miaomiao Wang
- College of Teacher Education, Weifang University, No. 2829, Wo Long West Street, Weifang, Shandong, China.
| | - Liping Jia
- School of Psychology, Shandong Second Medical University, No. 7166, Bao Tong West Street, Weifang, Shandong, China.
| | - Guohua Lu
- School of Psychology, Shandong Second Medical University, No. 7166, Bao Tong West Street, Weifang, Shandong, China.
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4
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Jackson LE, Wilson KA, MacNamara A. Savoring mental imagery: Electrocortical effects and association with depression. Behav Res Ther 2024; 179:104559. [PMID: 38761557 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2024.104559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
The ability to focus on and increase positive emotion in response to mental imagery may play a key role in emotional wellbeing. Moreover, deficits in this ability might underlie emotional disorders such as depression. Here, we set out to determine whether people could use savoring to upregulate subjective and electrocortical response to mental imagery of previously viewed positive and neutral pictures, and whether this would be negatively affected by depression. On each trial, participants (N = 49) viewed a positive or neutral picture, prior to simply re-imagining the previously presented picture ("view") or re-imagining the picture while savoring it ("savor"). Results showed that savoring increased electrocortical and subjective response to imagined stimuli; however, this effect was only evident at the electrocortical level when controlling for depression. Moreover, depression moderated electrocortical findings, such that individuals who were more depressed showed a reduced effect of savoring on neural response to mental imagery. Results are in line with recent work that has shown the benefits of positive affect treatment for depression, to suggest that deficits in savoring mental imagery may play a role in the development and/or maintenance of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Annmarie MacNamara
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, USA; Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
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5
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Castagna PJ, Edgar EV, Delpech R, Topel S, Kortink ED, van der Molen MJW, Crowley MJ. Computational modeling of social evaluative decision-making elucidates individual differences in adolescent anxiety. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH ON ADOLESCENCE : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR RESEARCH ON ADOLESCENCE 2024. [PMID: 38961725 DOI: 10.1111/jora.12999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Adolescents experience significant developmental changes during a time of heightened sensitivity to social cues, particularly rejection by peers, which can be especially overwhelming for those with elevated levels of social anxiety. Social evaluative decision-making tasks have been useful in uncovering the neural correlates of information processing biases; however, linking youths' task-based performance to individual differences in psychopathology (e.g., anxiety symptoms) has proven more elusive. Here, we address this weakness with drift diffusion modeling to decompose youths' performance on the social judgment paradigm (SJP) to determine if this approach is useful in discovering individual differences in anxiety symptoms, as well as puberty, age, and sex. A sample of 103 adolescents (55 males, Mage = 14.49, SD = 1.69) completed the SJP and self-report measures of anxiety, as well as self- and parent-reported measures of puberty. The decision threshold parameter, reflecting the amount of evidence needed to make a social evaluative decision, predicted youth self-reported anxiety, above and beyond typical metrics of SJP performance. Our results highlight the potential advantage of parsing task performance according to the underlying cognitive processes. Future research would likely benefit from applying computational modeling approaches to social judgment tasks when attempting to uncover performance-based individual differences in psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Castagna
- Department of Psychology, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Elizabeth V Edgar
- Yale School of Medicine, Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Raphaëlle Delpech
- Yale School of Medicine, Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Selin Topel
- Clinical Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Elise D Kortink
- Developmental and Educational Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Melle J W van der Molen
- Developmental and Educational Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Michael J Crowley
- Yale School of Medicine, Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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6
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Kryza-Lacombe M, Spaulding I, Ku CK, Pearson N, Stein MB, Taylor CT. Amplification of positivity for depression and anxiety: Neural prediction of treatment response. Behav Res Ther 2024; 178:104545. [PMID: 38714105 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2024.104545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
Psychosocial treatments targeting the positive valence system (PVS) in depression and anxiety demonstrate efficacy in enhancing positive affect (PA), but response to treatment varies. We examined whether individual differences in neural activation to positive and negative valence incentive cues underlies differences in benefitting from a PVS-targeted treatment. Individuals with clinically elevated depression and/or anxiety (N = 88, ages 18 to 55) participated in one of two randomized, waitlist-controlled trials of Amplification of Positivity (AMP; NCT02330627, NCT03196544), a cognitive and behavioral intervention targeting the PVS. Participants completed a monetary incentive delay (MID) task during fMRI acquisition at baseline measuring neural activation to the possibility of gaining or losing money. Change in PA from before to after treatment was assessed using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. No significant associations were observed between baseline neural activation during gain anticipation and AMP-related changes in PA in regions of interest (striatum and insula) or whole-brain analyses. However, higher baseline striatal and insula activation during loss anticipation was associated with greater increases in PA post-AMP. This study provides preliminary evidence suggesting neural reactivity to negative valence cues may inform who stands to benefit most from treatments targeting the PVS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Kryza-Lacombe
- San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, USA
| | - Isabella Spaulding
- San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, USA
| | - Cheuk King Ku
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, USA
| | - Nana Pearson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, USA
| | - Murray B Stein
- San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, USA
| | - Charles T Taylor
- San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, USA.
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7
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Yang Z, Han S, Zhang L, Sun M, Hu Q, Hu Y, Wu B. Dose‒Response Effects of Patient Engagement on Anxiety and Depression in a Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention: Secondary Analysis of a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial and a Clinical Controlled Trial. AIDS Behav 2024; 28:1923-1935. [PMID: 38570384 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-024-04290-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Understanding the dose‒response relationship between patient engagement in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and health outcomes is critical for developing and implementing effective CBT programs. In studies of CBT interventions, patient engagement is measured only at a single time point, and outcomes are typically assessed before and after the intervention. Examination of the dose‒response relationship between patient engagement in CBT and outcomes is limited. It is unclear whether a dose‒response relationship exists between patient engagement in on-site CBT intervention and anxiety and depression in people living with HIV (PLWH). If present, does this dose‒response relationship occur early or later in the intervention? This study aimed to address this gap by examining the dose‒response relationships between patient engagement and anxiety and depression in CBT interventions among PLWH. Utilizing data from a pilot randomized trial (10 participants) and a clinical controlled trial (70 participants), our secondary analysis spans baseline, 3-month, and 6-month assessments. Both trials implemented the nurse-led CBT intervention. Cluster analysis identified two groups based on on-site attendance and WeChat activity. Patients with good adherence (6-10 times) of on-site attendance exhibited significantly lower anxiety and depression scores at 3 months (β = 1.220, P = 0.047; β = 1.270, P = 0.019), with no significant differences observed at 6 months. WeChat activity did not significantly influence anxiety or depression scores. The findings highlight a significant short-term dose‒response relationship, endorsing nurse-led CBT interventions for mental health in PLWH. Organizational strategies should focus on incentivizing and facilitating patient engagement, particularly through enhancing WeChat features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongfang Yang
- School of Nursing, Fudan University, 305 Fenglin Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Fudan University Centre for Evidence-Based Nursing: A Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuyu Han
- School of Nursing, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Meiyan Sun
- School of Nursing, Fudan University, 305 Fenglin Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Qianqian Hu
- School of Nursing, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Yan Hu
- School of Nursing, Fudan University, 305 Fenglin Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Fudan University Centre for Evidence-Based Nursing: A Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence, Shanghai, China.
| | - Bei Wu
- NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York University, 433 First Avenue, 5Th Floor, New York, NY, 10010, USA.
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8
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Dobos B, Mellor D, Piko BF. Exploring fear of happiness among university students: The role of perfectionism, academic burnout, loneliness, and hopelessness. Scand J Psychol 2024; 65:559-567. [PMID: 38258953 DOI: 10.1111/sjop.13001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Due to its impact on mental health and well-being, fear of happiness is beginning to receive more attention in research. This study, conducted in Hungary, explored the relationship between fear of happiness, perfectionism, loneliness, hopelessness, and academic burnout. Participants aged between 18 and 35 years (N = 1,148, M = 22 years, SD = 4.5) completed an online questionnaire that included self-report measures of these constructs. In the present study, males showed higher levels of fear of happiness and perfectionism than did females. Analyses also revealed that both adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism, academic burnout, loneliness, and hopelessness were positively related to fear of happiness. In multiple regression analysis, gender had a positive and age had a negative role in the levels of fear of happiness. Maladaptive perfectionism, academic burnout, loneliness, and hopelessness were positive predictors, while adaptive perfectionism almost reached statistical significance. These findings highlight the predictive role of previously unexplored variables in fear of happiness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianka Dobos
- Doctoral School of Education, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - David Mellor
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia
| | - Bettina F Piko
- Department of Behavioural Sciences, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
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9
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Steinmann S, Tiedemann KJ, Kellner S, Wellen CM, Haaf M, Mulert C, Rauh J, Leicht G. Reduced frontocingulate theta connectivity during emotion regulation in major depressive disorder. J Psychiatr Res 2024; 173:245-253. [PMID: 38554620 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive reappraisal is an essential emotion regulation skill for social life and psychological health. However, individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) cannot use this skill effectively. Successful cognitive reappraisal in healthy controls (HC) has been shown to be associated with theta activity in a frontal and subcortical network. In the present study, we investigated whether MDD patients are characterized by altered theta power and connectivity pattern during cognitive reappraisal compared to HC. METHODS Using EEG and eLORETA, we examined both theta activity and connectivity when 25 controls and 24 patients with MDD were asked to complete the emotion cognitive reappraisal task of viewing neutral and negative pictures and reappraise negative pictures. Habitual use of emotion regulation skills was collected using the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ). RESULTS The results showed that MDD patients had (1) reduced theta activity in the left dorsolateral (dlPFC), dorsomedial prefrontal (dmPFC), and rostral-ventral cingulate cortices (rvACC), as well as (2) reduced dlPFC-rvACC theta connectivity than HC during reappraisal. In addition, left dlPFC-rvACC theta connectivity was positively correlated with self-reported cognitive reappraisal in HC. This relation was not observed in MDD. In contrast, CERQ revealed significantly greater use of inadequate regulations skills and significantly lower use of adaptive skills in MDD. LIMITATION Sample size, limited solution space to cortical grey matter excluding regions such as the amygdala. CONCLUSION This study may indicate a putative frontocingulate dysfunction leading either to an increased use of inadequate emotion regulation or a decreased use of skills that serve to boost positive emotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saskia Steinmann
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Branch, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Kim Janine Tiedemann
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Branch, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stephanie Kellner
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Branch, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Claudius M Wellen
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Branch, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Moritz Haaf
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Branch, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Mulert
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Branch, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Center for Psychiatry, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Jonas Rauh
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Branch, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Gregor Leicht
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Branch, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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10
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Basanovic J. Attentional biases to signals of negative information: Reliable measurement across three anxiety domains. Behav Res Methods 2024; 56:4173-4187. [PMID: 38528246 PMCID: PMC11133079 DOI: 10.3758/s13428-024-02403-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Cognitive models propose that individuals with elevated vulnerability to experiencing negative emotion are characterised by biased attentional responding to negative information. Typically, methods of examining these biases have measured attention to pictures of emotional scenes, emotional faces, or rewarding or feared objects. Though these approaches have repeatedly yielded evidence of anxiety-linked biases, their measurement reliability is suggested to be poor. Recent research has shown that attentional responding to cues signalling negative information can be measured with greater reliability. However, whether such biases are associated with emotion vulnerability remains to be demonstrated. The present study conducted three experiments that recruited participants who varied in trait and state anxiety (N = 134), social anxiety (N = 122), or spider fear (N = 131) to complete an assessment of selective attention to cues signalling emotionally congruent negative information. Analyses demonstrated that anxiety and fear were associated with biased attentional responding to cues signalling negative information, and that such biases could be measured with acceptable reliability (rsplit-half = .69-.81). Implications for research on the relation between emotion and attention are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Basanovic
- Department of Psychology, University of Exeter, Washington Singer Laboratories, Exeter, EX4 4QG, UK.
- School of Psychological Science, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
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11
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Finkelstein-Fox L, Park CL, Eigsti IM, Awao S, Mancini AD. Disruptions in self-regulatory processes predict depression and sleep disturbance in bereaved young adults. Stress Health 2024; 40:e3310. [PMID: 37658785 DOI: 10.1002/smi.3310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Losing a loved one is both common and profoundly stressful for young adults. Little research has examined the longitudinal course of post-loss cognitive processing, depression, and sleep difficulties. Further, little is known about the context of other stressors or the role of individual regulatory resources, such as attentional regulation, that might determine whether loss-related cognitive processing reduces distress. This prospective study examined changes in depression and sleep disturbance over 9 weeks as a function of within- and between-person variation in stress exposure, loss-related cognitive processing, and attention regulation. Participants were 108 recently bereaved college students completing a lab-based assessment of attention regulation and four self-report surveys, spaced three weeks apart. Results revealed that most participants gradually reduced loss-related processing over the study period, with corresponding improvements in depression and sleep. Stress exposure was associated with increased processing, depression, and sleep disturbance. In exploratory analyses, high attentional alertness and slow re-orienting strengthened the association of within-person loss processing with sleep disturbance. Both within- and between-person variation in stress appear to engender risk for a prolonged course of bereavement. Future research should integrate objective attention measures with self-reported adjustment to stress to illuminate reciprocal links between depression, sleep, and loss-related cognitive processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy Finkelstein-Fox
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Crystal L Park
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Inge-Marie Eigsti
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Sayaka Awao
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Anthony D Mancini
- Department of Psychology, Pace University, Pleasantville, New York, USA
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12
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Sullivan AJ, Chung YS, Novotny S, Epperson CN, Kober H, Blumberg HP, Gross JJ, Ochsner KN, Pearlson G, Stevens MC. Estradiol effects on an emotional interference task in adolescents with current and remitted depression. Horm Behav 2024; 157:105450. [PMID: 37923628 PMCID: PMC10842169 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Attentional biases to emotional stimuli are thought to reflect vulnerability for mood disorder onset and maintenance. This study examined the association between the endogenous sex hormone estradiol and emotional attentional biases in adolescent females with either current or remitted depression. Three groups of participants (mean age ± SD) completed the Emotional Interrupt Task: 1) 20 adolescent females (15.1 ± 1.83 years) currently diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), 2) 16 adolescent females (16.4 ± 1.31 years) who had experienced at least one episode of MDD in their lifetime but currently met criteria for MDD in remission, and 3) 30 adolescent female (15.4 ± 1.83 years) healthy controls. Attentional interference (AI) scores were calculated as differences in target response reaction time between trials with emotional facial expressions versus neutral facial expressions. Estradiol levels were assayed by Salimetrics LLC using saliva samples collected within 30 min of waking on assessment days. Robust multiple regression with product terms evaluated estradiol's main effect on AI scores, as well as hypothesized estradiol × diagnostic group interactions. Although neither mean estradiol levels nor mean AI scores in the current-MDD and remitted-MDD groups differed from controls, the relationship between estradiol and overall AI score differed between control adolescents and the remitted-MDD group. Specifically, the remitted-MDD adolescents performed worse (i.e., showed greater attentional interference) when they had higher estradiol; no significant relationship existed in the current-MDD group. Because this finding was driven by angry and not happy stimuli, it appears higher estradiol levels were associated with greater susceptibility to the attention-capturing effects of negatively-valenced emotional content in girls at risk for MDD from prior history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail J Sullivan
- Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Hartford HealthCare, Hartford, CT 06106, United States of America.
| | - Yu Sun Chung
- Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Hartford HealthCare, Hartford, CT 06106, United States of America
| | - Stephanie Novotny
- Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Hartford HealthCare, Hartford, CT 06106, United States of America
| | - C Neill Epperson
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, United States of America
| | - Hedy Kober
- Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, United States of America
| | - Hilary P Blumberg
- Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, United States of America
| | - James J Gross
- Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, United States of America
| | - Kevin N Ochsner
- Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, United States of America
| | - Godfrey Pearlson
- Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Hartford HealthCare, Hartford, CT 06106, United States of America; Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, United States of America
| | - Michael C Stevens
- Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Hartford HealthCare, Hartford, CT 06106, United States of America; Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, United States of America
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13
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Yuan Z, Qi Z, Wang R, Cui Y, An S, Wu G, Feng Q, Lin R, Dai R, Li A, Gong H, Luo Q, Fu L, Luo M. A corticoamygdalar pathway controls reward devaluation and depression using dynamic inhibition code. Neuron 2023; 111:3837-3853.e5. [PMID: 37734380 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Reward devaluation adaptively controls reward intake. It remains unclear how cortical circuits causally encode reward devaluation in healthy and depressed states. Here, we show that the neural pathway from the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) to the basolateral amygdala (BLA) employs a dynamic inhibition code to control reward devaluation and depression. Fiber photometry and imaging of ACC pyramidal neurons reveal reward-induced inhibition, which weakens during satiation and becomes further attenuated in depression mouse models. Ablating or inhibiting these neurons desensitizes reward devaluation, causes reward intake increase and ultimate obesity, and ameliorates depression, whereas activating the cells sensitizes reward devaluation, suppresses reward consumption, and produces depression-like behaviors. Among various ACC neuron subpopulations, the BLA-projecting subset bidirectionally regulates reward devaluation and depression-like behaviors. Our study thus uncovers a corticoamygdalar circuit that encodes reward devaluation via blunted inhibition and suggests that enhancing inhibition within this circuit may offer a therapeutic approach for treating depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengwei Yuan
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing 102206, China; Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing 102206, China; Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research (TIMBR), Beijing 102206, China
| | - Zhongyang Qi
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing 102206, China; Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong, Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Ruiyu Wang
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing 102206, China; School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yuting Cui
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing 102206, China; Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Sile An
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong, Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Guoli Wu
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Qiru Feng
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Rui Lin
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing 102206, China; Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research (TIMBR), Beijing 102206, China
| | - Ruicheng Dai
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing 102206, China; School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Anan Li
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong, Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Hui Gong
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong, Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Qingming Luo
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong, Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Ling Fu
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong, Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Minmin Luo
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing 102206, China; Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing 102206, China; Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research (TIMBR), Beijing 102206, China; Research Unit of Medical Neurobiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China; New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Shenzhen 518054, China; Beijing Tiantan Hospital, 100070 Beijing, China.
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14
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Gallagher MR, Collins AC, Winer ES. A network analytic investigation of avoidance, dampening, and devaluation of positivity. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 2023; 81:101870. [PMID: 37201468 PMCID: PMC10524699 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2023.101870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Reward Devaluation Theory suggests that devaluation of positivity may be integral in understanding depression (Winer & Salem, 2016). Specifically, the anticipatory (e.g., fear of happiness) and responsive (e.g., dampening) behaviors related to the processing of positivity may play a role in the development and maintenance of depression. METHODS The goal of this study was to examine the potential overlap between measures that operationalize positivity avoidance, two Fear of Happiness Scales (Gilbert et al., 2012; Joshanloo, 2013), as well as positivity dampening, measured via the dampening subscale of the Responses to Positive Affect Questionnaire (Feldman et al., 2008). Network and community analyses were employed to examine the extent to which the items of these measures clustered into their parent measures and investigate the dynamic interactions between items. RESULTS The results of the community analysis revealed that the three self-report measures overall clustered into their parent measures, except for the Gilbert et al. (2012) Fear of Happiness Scale, which clustered into two separate communities. The most influential nodes represented the concept that good feelings are often followed by negative outcomes. Additionally, nodes related to the theme of fear of letting oneself become happy emerged as the strongest bridge nodes. LIMITATIONS One limitation of this study is the use of a cross-sectional design; thus, causality cannot be inferred, but the results can guide future longitudinal network designs. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate how anticipatory avoidance and responsive dampening may influence depression, thus providing evidence for unique targets for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Gallagher
- Department of Psychology, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA.
| | - Amanda C Collins
- Department of Psychology, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA; Center for Technology and Behavioral Health, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - E Samuel Winer
- Department of Psychology, The New School for Social Research, New York, NY, USA
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15
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Collins AC, Price GD, Woodworth RJ, Jacobson NC. Predicting Individual Response to a Web-Based Positive Psychology Intervention: A Machine Learning Approach. THE JOURNAL OF POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 19:675-685. [PMID: 38854972 PMCID: PMC11156258 DOI: 10.1080/17439760.2023.2254743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Positive psychology interventions (PPIs) are effective at increasing happiness and decreasing depressive symptoms. PPIs are often administered as self-guided web-based interventions, but not all persons benefit from web-based interventions. Therefore, it is important to identify whether someone is likely to benefit from web-based PPIs, in order to triage persons who may not benefit from other interventions. In the current study, we used machine learning to predict individual response to a web-based PPI, in order to investigate baseline prognostic indicators of likelihood of response (N = 120). Our models demonstrated moderate correlations (happiness: r Test = 0.30 ± 0.09; depressive symptoms: r Test = 0.39 ± 0.06), indicating that baseline features can predict changes in happiness and depressive symptoms at a 6-month follow-up. Thus, machine learning can be used to predict outcome changes from a web-based PPI and has important clinical implications for matching individuals to PPIs based on their individual characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda C. Collins
- Center for Technology and Behavioral Health, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, United States
- Department of Psychology, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, United States
| | - George D. Price
- Center for Technology and Behavioral Health, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, United States
- Quantitative Biomedical Sciences Program, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, United States
| | | | - Nicholas C. Jacobson
- Center for Technology and Behavioral Health, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, United States
- Quantitative Biomedical Sciences Program, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, United States
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, United States
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16
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Godara M, Sanchez-Lopez A, De Raedt R. The contextual goal dependent attentional flexibility (CoGoDAF) framework: A new approach to attention bias in depression. Behav Res Ther 2023; 167:104354. [PMID: 37343329 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2023.104354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Successful adaptation to the environment requires attentional prioritization of emotional information relevant to the current situational demands. Accordingly, the presence of an attention bias (AB) for both positive and negative information may allow preferential processing of stimuli in line with the current situational goals. However, AB for negative information sometimes becomes maladaptive, being antithetical to the current adaptive needs and goals of an individual, such as in the case of affective disorders such as depression. Although difficulties in flexible shifting between emotional stimuli in depression have increasingly become a topic of discussion in the field, an integrative approach towards biased versus flexible emotional attentional processes remains absent. In the present paper, we advance a novel and integrative view of conceptualizing potentially aberrant affective attention patterns in depression as a function of the current contextual features. We propose that flexible emotional attention takes place as a result of attention prioritization towards goal-relevant emotional stimuli depending upon the current context of the individual. Specifically, the roles of context, distal and proximal goals, and approach and avoidance motivation processes are considered in a unified manner. The empirical, clinical, and interventional implications of this integrative framework provide a roadmap for future psychological and neurobiological experimental and translational research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malvika Godara
- Department of Experimental Clinical & Health Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium.
| | | | - Rudi De Raedt
- Department of Experimental Clinical & Health Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium
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17
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Kilgore J, Collins AC, Miller JAM, Winer ES. Does grit protect against the adverse effects of depression on academic achievement? PLoS One 2023; 18:e0288270. [PMID: 37418474 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Depressive symptoms have been shown to be negatively related to academic achievement, as measured by grade point average (GPA). Grit, or the passion for and the ability to persevere toward a goal despite adversity, has been linked to GPA. Thus, grit may potentially buffer against the negative effects of depressive symptoms in relation to academic achievement. However, social desirability may might impact the validity of grit when assessed by self-report measures, so how these constructs are all related is unknown. The current study explored the relationship between depressive symptoms, grit, social desirability, and GPA among University students (N = 520) in the United States using a cross-sectional design. We conducted a moderated-moderation model to examine how social desirability moderated the relationship between depressive symptoms, grit, and GPA. Findings replicated prior work and indicated negative relationships between depressive symptoms and social desirability with GPA and a positive relationship, albeit non-significant, between grit and GPA. However, results suggest that grit did not moderate the relationship between depressive symptoms and GPA when including social desirability in the model. Future research should investigate this relationship in a longitudinal setting to further examine how grit and depressive symptoms influence one another in academic domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna Kilgore
- Department of Psychology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi, United States of America
| | - Amanda C Collins
- Department of Psychology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi, United States of America
- Center for Technology and Behavioral Health, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, United States of America
| | - Julie Anne M Miller
- Department of Psychology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi, United States of America
| | - E Samuel Winer
- Department of Psychology, The New School for Social Research, New York, NY, United States of America
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18
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Bryant JS, Gallagher MR, Collins AC, Winer ES. Individuals fearing positivity do not perceive positive affect treatments as strong fits: A novel experimental finding and replication. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 2023; 79:101830. [PMID: 36587466 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2022.101830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Positive affect treatments, which hold great promise to connect with those who are otherwise resistant to depression treatments, attempt to upregulate positive emotions. These treatments have potential advantages over standard therapies because they target cross-diagnostic core symptoms (e.g., anhedonia) that may respond better to interventions aimed at increased positivity. However, the extent to which these treatments are a perceived fit by individuals for whom they were developed (i.e., individuals who are afraid of, avoid, or experience less positivity) is unclear. METHODS We conducted two independent studies utilizing a cross-sectional, experimental design to examine perceived treatment fit. Participants (Study 1: N = 416; Study 2: N = 321) read counterbalanced treatment descriptions of (1) positive affect treatment and (2) psychodynamic psychotherapy and answered questions regarding perceived treatment fit, effectiveness, and preference of the two treatments. RESULTS Our findings suggest that individuals fearful of happiness perceived a prospective depression treatment specifically targeting positivity as a poorer fit, demonstrating an opposite pattern to the overall samples' treatment preference in both studies. Thus, as predicted by Reward Devaluation Theory, those fearing positivity exhibited avoidance behaviors for treatments that are to an extent designed, and might otherwise be most effective, for them. LIMITATIONS The current study utilized a college student sample. CONCLUSION These empirical findings may ultimately inform psychoeducation of why positive affect treatments, which are in direct contrast with clients' preferences, may be the very treatments they need the most.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica S Bryant
- Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, North Little Rock, AR, USA
| | | | - Amanda C Collins
- Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA; Center for Technology and Behavioral Health, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA
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19
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Kock M, Belmans E, Raes F. Fear of Happiness Predicts Concurrent but not Prospective Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents. CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY IN EUROPE 2023; 5:e10495. [PMID: 37732149 PMCID: PMC10508257 DOI: 10.32872/cpe.10495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background It is increasingly recognised that the study of responses to positive emotions significantly contributes to our understanding of psychopathology. Notably, positive emotions are not necessarily experienced as pleasurable. Instead, some believe that experiencing happiness may have negative consequences, referred to as fear of happiness (FOH), or they experience a fear of losing control over positive emotions (FOLC). According to reward devaluation theory, such an association of positivity with negative outcomes will result in positive stimuli being devalued over time, contributing to or maintaining depressive symptoms. The prospective relationship between fears of positivity and depressive symptoms is yet to be examined in adolescents. The present longitudinal study investigated whether FOH and FOLC prospectively predict depressive symptoms. Method 128 adolescents between 16-18 years of age (M = 16.87, SD = 0.80) recruited from two secondary schools in Flanders, Belgium, completed measures of depressive symptoms (Depression Anxiety Stress Scales) including consummatory anhedonia, FOH (Fear of Happiness Scale), and FOLC (Affective Control Scale) in their classroom at baseline and 2-months follow-up. Regression analyses were performed to test the association between FOH, FOLC, and depressive symptoms. Results FOH concurrently, but not prospectively, predicted depressive symptoms. There was no significant association between FOH and consummatory anhedonia. FOLC was not a significant predictor of depressive symptoms or consummatory anhedonia. Conclusion These findings suggest that FOH may only be concurrently related to depressive symptoms. Considering prior findings in adults, future research should investigate the association of FOH with anticipatory anhedonia in adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merle Kock
- Centre for the Psychology of Learning and Experimental Psychopathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Child & Youth Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Mindfulness Centre, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Eline Belmans
- Centre for the Psychology of Learning and Experimental Psychopathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Child & Youth Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Filip Raes
- Centre for the Psychology of Learning and Experimental Psychopathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Child & Youth Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Mindfulness Centre, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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20
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Craske MG, Meuret AE, Echiverri-Cohen A, Rosenfield D, Ritz T. Positive affect treatment targets reward sensitivity: A randomized controlled trial. J Consult Clin Psychol 2023; 91:350-366. [PMID: 36892884 PMCID: PMC10213148 DOI: 10.1037/ccp0000805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Determine whether a novel psychosocial treatment for positive affect improves clinical status and reward sensitivity more than a form of cognitive behavioral therapy that targets negative affect and whether improvements in reward sensitivity correlate with improvements in clinical status. METHOD In this assessor-blinded, parallel-group, multisite, two-arm randomized controlled clinical superiority trial, 85 treatment-seeking adults with severely low positive affect, moderate-to-severe depression or anxiety, and functional impairment received 15 weekly individual therapy sessions of positive affect treatment (PAT) or negative affect treatment (NAT). Clinical status measures were self-reported positive affect, interviewer-rated anhedonia, and self-reported depression and anxiety. Target measures were eleven physiological, behavioral, cognitive, and self-report measures of reward anticipation-motivation, response to reward attainment, and reward learning. All analyses were intent-to-treat. RESULTS Compared to NAT, individuals receiving PAT achieved superior improvements in the multivariate clinical status measures at posttreatment, b = .37, 95% CI [.15, .59], t(109) = 3.34, p = .001, q = .004, d = .64. Compared to NAT, individuals receiving PAT also achieved higher multivariate reward anticipation-motivation, b = .21, 95% CI [.05, .37], t(268) = 2.61, p = .010, q = .020, d = .32, and higher multivariate response to reward attainment, b = .24, 95% CI [.02, .45], t(266) = 2.17, p = .031, q = .041, d = .25, at posttreatment. Measures of reward learning did not differ between the two groups. Improvements in reward anticipation-motivation and in response to reward attainment correlated with improvements in the clinical status measures. CONCLUSIONS Targeting positive affect results in superior improvements in clinical status and reward sensitivity than targeting negative affect. This is the first demonstration of differential target engagement across two psychological interventions for anxious or depressed individuals with low positive affect. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle G. Craske
- Department of Psychology, UCLA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA
| | | | | | | | - Thomas Ritz
- Department of Psychology, Southern Methodist University
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21
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Moretta T, Messerotti Benvenuti S. Familial risk for depression is associated with reduced P300 and late positive potential to affective stimuli and prolonged cardiac deceleration to unpleasant stimuli. Sci Rep 2023; 13:6432. [PMID: 37081143 PMCID: PMC10119159 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33534-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite evidence of abnormal affective processing as a key correlate of depression, specific attentional mechanisms underlying processing of emotions in familial risk for depression have yet to be investigated in a single study. To this end, the amplitude of the P300 and late positive potential (LPP) complex and cardiac deceleration were assessed during the passive viewing of affective pictures in 32 individuals who had family history of depression (without depressive symptoms) and in 30 controls (without depressive symptoms and family history of depression). Individuals with familial risk for depression revealed reduced P300-LPP amplitudes in response to pleasant and unpleasant stimuli relative to controls, and comparable P300-LPP amplitudes in response to pleasant and neutral stimuli. Controls, but not individuals with familial risk for depression, reported cardiac deceleration during the viewing of pleasant vs. neutral and unpleasant stimuli in the 0-3 s time window. Also, only individuals with familial risk for depression showed a prolonged cardiac deceleration in response to unpleasant vs. neutral stimuli. Overall, the present study provides new insights into the characterization of emotion-related attentional processes in familial risk for depression as potential vulnerability factors for the development of the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Moretta
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia, 8, 35131, Padua, Italy.
| | - Simone Messerotti Benvenuti
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia, 8, 35131, Padua, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Hospital Psychology Unit, Padua University Hospital, Padua, Italy
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22
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Barber KE, Zainal NH, Newman MG. The mediating effect of stress reactivity in the 18-year bidirectional relationship between generalized anxiety and depression severity. J Affect Disord 2023; 325:502-512. [PMID: 36642311 PMCID: PMC9930685 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.01.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) often precede and predict one another. Heightened stress reactivity may be a mediation mechanism underlying the long-term connections between GAD and MDD. However, cross-sectional studies on this topic have hindered directional inferences. METHOD The present study examined stress reactivity as a potential mediator of the sequential associations between GAD and MDD symptoms in a sample of 3,294 community-dwelling adults (M age = 45.6, range = 20-74). Participants completed three waves of measurement (T1, T2, and T3) spaced nine years apart. GAD and MDD symptom severity were assessed at T1, T2, and T3 (Composite International Diagnostic Interview-Short Form). Stress reactivity (Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire) was measured at T2. RESULTS Structural equation mediation modeling demonstrated that higher T1 GAD symptoms positively predicted more severe T3 MDD symptoms via T2 stress reactivity, controlling for T1 MDD (d = 0.45-0.50). However, T2 stress reactivity was not a significant mediator in the relationship between T1 MDD severity and T3 GAD symptoms after controlling for T1 GAD. Direct effects indicated that T1 GAD positively predicted T3 MDD 18 years later and vice versa (d = 1.29-1.65). LIMITATIONS Stress reactivity was assessed using a self-report measure, limiting conclusions to perceived (vs. physiologically indexed) stress reactivity. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that stress reactivity may be one mechanism through which GAD leads to later MDD over prolonged durations. Overall, results suggest that targeting stress reactivity in treatments for GAD may reduce the risk of developing subsequent MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn E Barber
- Department of Psychology, Marquette University, United States of America; Department of Psychology and Psychiatry, The Pennsylvania State University, United States of America.
| | - Nur Hani Zainal
- Department of Public Health, Harvard Medical School, United States of America
| | - Michelle G Newman
- Department of Psychology and Psychiatry, The Pennsylvania State University, United States of America
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23
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Xia HS, Li YX, Zhang QY, Zhong DL, Liu XB, Gou XY, Fan J, Zhao J, Zhang Y, Ai SC, Huang JX, Li J, Jin RJ. Attention bias modification for depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1098610. [PMID: 36970284 PMCID: PMC10036757 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1098610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BackgroundDepression is a mental health disorder characterized by affective, somatic, and cognitive symptoms. Attention bias modification (ABM) has been widely used to treat depression. However, the results seem inconsistent. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the efficacy of ABM for depression and to explore the optimal protocol of ABM.MethodsSeven databases were systematically searched from their inceptions to 5 October 2022 to include randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of ABM for depression. Two independent reviewers selected the eligible articles, extracted data, and evaluated the risk of bias using version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool (ROB 2.0) for randomized trials. The primary outcome was the evaluation of depressive symptoms using widely accepted and validated scales. The secondary outcomes included rumination and attentional control. Meta-analysis was conducted by using RevMan (version 5.4) and Stata (version 12.0). Subgroup analyses and meta-regressions were performed to identify the source of heterogeneity. The certainty of the evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE).ResultsA total of 19 trials involving 20 datasets (1,262 participants) were included. The overall risk of bias in one study was rated as low risk of bias, three studies were considered as high, and the remaining studies were some concerns. Compared with attention control training (ACT), ABM had a greater effect in the improvement of depression (SMD = −0.48, 95% CI −0.80 to −0.17, I2 = 82%) and rumination (MD = −3.46, 95% CI −6.06 to −0.87, I2 = 0%). No significant differences were observed in the attentional control outcome between ABM and ACT (MD = 3.07, 95% CI −0.52 to 6.65, I2 = 0%). Subgroup analysis demonstrated that adults exhibited a greater decrease in depression scores than adolescents. ABM using the dot-probe task, training target stimulus presented by face, and training directions by left–right were associated with better antidepressant effects. ABM training delivered in the laboratory tended to yield a better effect than those conducted at home. Sensitivity analysis indicated that the results were robust. The certainty of the evidence for all outcomes was low or very low, and publication bias may exist.ConclusionDue to high heterogeneity and limited studies, not enough current evidence supported that ABM could be an effective intervention to relieve depressive symptoms. More rigorous RCTs are required to verify the benefits and to explore the optimal protocol of ABM training for depression.Systematic Review Registration: [PROSPERO], identifier [No. CRD42021279163].
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-sha Xia
- School of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yu-xi Li
- School of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Qing-yun Zhang
- Department of Rehabilitation, The Third Hospital of Mianyang, Sichuan Mental Health Center, Mianyang, China
| | - Dong-ling Zhong
- School of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiao-bo Liu
- School of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Xin-yun Gou
- School of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Jin Fan
- School of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- School of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- School of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Shuang-chun Ai
- Department of rehabilitation, Mianyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Mianyang, China
| | - Jia-xi Huang
- Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Jia-xi Huang, ; Juan Li, ; Rong-jiang Jin,
| | - Juan Li
- School of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Jia-xi Huang, ; Juan Li, ; Rong-jiang Jin,
| | - Rong-jiang Jin
- School of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Jia-xi Huang, ; Juan Li, ; Rong-jiang Jin,
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Rutherford AV, McDougle SD, Joormann J. "Don't [ruminate], be happy": A cognitive perspective linking depression and anhedonia. Clin Psychol Rev 2023; 101:102255. [PMID: 36871425 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2023.102255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
Anhedonia, a lack of pleasure in things an individual once enjoyed, and rumination, the process of perseverative and repetitive attention to specific thoughts, are hallmark features of depression. Though these both contribute to the same debilitating disorder, they have often been studied independently and through different theoretical lenses (e.g., biological vs. cognitive). Cognitive theories and research on rumination have largely focused on understanding negative affect in depression with much less focus on the etiology and maintenance of anhedonia. In this paper, we argue that by examining the relation between cognitive constructs and deficits in positive affect, we may better understand anhedonia in depression thereby improving prevention and intervention efforts. We review the extant literature on cognitive deficits in depression and discuss how these dysfunctions may not only lead to sustained negative affect but, importantly, interfere with an ability to attend to social and environmental cues that could restore positive affect. Specifically, we discuss how rumination is associated to deficits in working memory and propose that these deficits in working memory may contribute to anhedonia in depression. We further argue that analytical approaches such as computational modeling are needed to study these questions and, finally, discuss implications for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jutta Joormann
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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Collins AC, Lass ANS, Winer ES. Negative self-schemas and devaluation of positivity in depressed individuals: A moderated network analysis. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-023-04262-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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Using expectation violation models to improve the outcome of psychological treatments. Clin Psychol Rev 2022; 98:102212. [PMID: 36371900 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2022.102212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Expectations are a central maintaining mechanism in mental disorders and most psychological treatments aim to directly or indirectly modify clinically relevant expectations. Therefore, it is crucial to examine why patients with mental disorders maintain dysfunctional expectations, even in light of disconfirming evidence, and how expectation-violating situations should be created in treatment settings to optimize treatment outcome and reduce the risk of treatment failures. The different psychological subdisciplines offer various approaches for understanding the underlying mechanisms of expectation development, persistence, and change. Here, we convey recommendations on how to improve psychological treatments by considering these different perspectives. Based on our expectation violation model, we argue that the outcome of expectation violation depends on several characteristics: features of the expectation-violating situation; the dynamics between the magnitude of expectation violation and cognitive immunization processes; dealing with uncertainties during and after expectation change; controlled and automatic attention processes; and the costs of expectation changes. Personality factors further add to predict outcomes and may offer a basis for personalized treatment planning. We conclude with a list of recommendations derived from basic psychology that could contribute to improved treatment outcome and to reduced risks of treatment failures.
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Wu W, Huang X, Qi X, Lu Y. Bias of Attentional Oscillations in Individuals with Subthreshold Depression: Evidence from a Pre-Cueing Facial Expression Judgment Task. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14559. [PMID: 36361443 PMCID: PMC9654165 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Background: Study results regarding attentional bias in depressed individuals are inconsistent. Recent studies have found that attention is a discrete process, alternating between periods of either enhanced or diminished attention sensitivity. Whether a visual target can be detected depends on when it occurs relative to these oscillation rhythms. We infer that the inconsistency of attentional bias may be related to the abnormality of attentional oscillations in depressed individuals. Methods: A pre-cueing attentional task was used. We set 48 levels of stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) between cues and targets and measured the response time (RT) of participants, as well as their EEG signals. Results: The RTs showed patterns of behavioral oscillations. Repeated-measure ANOVA indicated that subthreshold depressed participants had significantly higher RTs for negative expressions than for neutral but significantly lower RTs for positive than for neutral. The frequency analysis indicated that the RT oscillational frequency of subthreshold depressed participants to negative/positive expressions was different from that to neutral. The EEG time-frequency analysis showed that when faced with negative expressions, the intensity of the neural alpha oscillatory power of subthreshold depressed participants was significantly lower than that of normal controls. When faced with positive expressions, the intensity of neural alpha oscillatory power was significantly higher than that of normal controls. Conclusion: Compared to normal persons, subthreshold depressed individuals may have biases in both the amplitude and frequency of attentional oscillations. These attentional biases correspond to the intensity of their neural alpha wave rhythms.
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Dell'Acqua C, Messerotti Benvenuti S, Vallesi A, Palomba D, Ambrosini E. Depressive symptoms and cognitive control: the role of affective interference. Cogn Emot 2022; 36:1389-1403. [PMID: 36154616 DOI: 10.1080/02699931.2022.2128065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Depressive symptoms are characterised by reduced cognitive control. However, whether depressive symptoms are linked to difficulty in exerting cognitive control in general or over emotional content specifically remains unclear. To better differentiate between affective interference or general cognitive control difficulties in people with depressive symptoms, we employed a non emotional (cold) and an emotional (hot) version of a task-switching paradigm in a nonclinical sample of young adults (N = 82) with varying levels of depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms were linked to greater difficulties in exerting cognitive control in complex situations (mixed-task blocks) compared to simple and semiautomatic situations (single-task blocks) in both task versions. Moreover, greater depressive symptoms were associated with longer latencies in the emotional version of the task across all trial types. Thus, the emotion-specific effect was not modulated by the degree of cognitive control required to perform the task. In sum, depressive symptoms were characterised by a general difficulty to exert cognitive control in both emotional and non emotional contexts and by greater difficulty in even simple attentional processing of emotional material. This study granted novel insights on the extent of cognitive control difficulties in emotional and non emotional contexts for people with depressive symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carola Dell'Acqua
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Simone Messerotti Benvenuti
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Antonino Vallesi
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Daniela Palomba
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Ettore Ambrosini
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
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Gray ZJ, Shields GS, Sichko S, Bui TQ, Vinograd M, Olvera-Alvarez HA, Slavich GM. Neural and peripheral markers of reward during positive social evaluation are associated with less clinician-rated depression symptom severity in adolescence. COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY 2022; 11:100149. [PMID: 35856064 PMCID: PMC9287766 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2022.100149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Although blunted sensitivity to reward is thought to play a key role in promoting risk for depression, most research on this topic has utilized monetary reward paradigms and focused on currently depressed adults. To address this issue, we analyzed neural reward and β-endorphin data from the Psychobiology of Stress and Adolescent Depression (PSY SAD) Study, which recruited a well-characterized sample of adolescent girls at high vs. low risk for major depressive disorder (MDD) (N = 52, M age = 14.90, SD = 1.35) based on their mothers' lifetime history of MDD. As hypothesized, greater striatal activity while receiving positive (vs. neutral) social evaluation was associated with lower depression symptom severity as independently assessed by the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (K-SADS). This association was present for girls at high but not low risk for MDD, suggesting that this neural response may represent a pre-clinical marker of risk for depression. Consistent with these results, higher post-social evaluation levels of a peripheral marker of reward sensitivity, β-endorphin, were related to lower clinician-rated depression symptom severity. Together, these results indicate that neural and peripheral markers of responsivity to social reward are both related to depression severity, which may have implications for understanding the pathophysiology of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zach J. Gray
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA
| | - Grant S. Shields
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA
| | - Stassja Sichko
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Theresa Q. Bui
- Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Meghan Vinograd
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, and Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - George M. Slavich
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Bean CAL, Summers CB, Ciesla JA. Dampening of positive affect and depression: A meta-analysis of cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships. Behav Res Ther 2022; 156:104153. [PMID: 35863241 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2022.104153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Dampening responses to positive affect have been posited to confer vulnerability to depression, but longitudinal studies have not consistently shown dampening tendencies to predict follow-up depression. The cross-sectional, longitudinal, and cross-lagged relationships between dampening and depression were determined using meta-analytic methods. A systematic literature search of the PsycINFO and PubMed databases supplemented by Google Scholar yielded 60 samples suitable for inclusion in the cross-sectional analyses and 12 samples meeting criteria for the longitudinal analyses. In the first meta-analytic study to examine the relationship between dampening and depression, we found dampening to be associated with depression both cross-sectionally (r = .45) and prospectively (r = 0.34). Crucially, dampening at baseline remained a significant predictor of follow-up depression even after controlling for baseline levels of depression in cross-lagged analyses (β = .09). A bidirectional effect was also found, with baseline levels of depression predicting follow-up tendencies to engage in dampening (r = 0.36). This relationship was again diminished but remained significant after controlling for initial levels of dampening (β = .14). These results suggest that dampening responses to positive affect are a risk factor for the development of depression and highlight the importance of targeting dampening cognitions in treatment.
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Wenzel M, Althen H, Veeh J, Reif A. Euthymic patients with predominantly manic polarity avoid happy faces in a dot probe task. Int J Bipolar Disord 2022; 10:16. [PMID: 35739323 PMCID: PMC9226225 DOI: 10.1186/s40345-022-00262-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Some studies suggest a mood-congruent attentional bias in bipolar patients. However, for euthymic patients, especially in dependence on the predominant polarity, there is little and inconsistent data. A clearer understanding of emotion-related attentional biases and their relationship to dysfunctional emotion regulation could help improving the diagnostics and treatment of bipolar disorder (BD). Twenty bipolar patients in a depressive state (BP-acute-D), 32 euthymic patients with manic (BP-euth-M) or depressive (BP-euth-D) predominant polarity, and 20 healthy control participants (HC) performed a dot-probe task (DPT) with happy and sad faces presented for 250 ms or 1250 ms in two different runs. Emotion regulation strategies were assessed with two questionnaires. RESULTS In the short presentation condition of the DPT, BP-euth-M showed less attention for happy faces than HC (p = .03, r = - 0.48). BP-acute-D scored lower in cognitive reappraisal and putting into perspective and higher in suppression, catastrophizing, and rumination than HC. BP-euth-M scored higher in rumination and BP-euth-D lower in putting into perspective and higher in catastrophizing than HC. In BP-euth-D and HC, bias scores for sad faces in the longer presentation condition and reappraisal scores correlated positively. CONCLUSIONS Results of the DPT suggest an avoidance of happy faces for BP-euth-M which we interpret as a protection mechanism for triggers of mania. That individuals who apply more reappraisal show more selective attention to sad faces could on the one hand reflect a mental effort in reevaluating the sad emotional input and on the other hand a greater tolerance for it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Wenzel
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany.
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
- Department of Neurology, Technical University of Munich (TU), Munich, Germany.
| | - Heike Althen
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Julia Veeh
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Reif
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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Neural basis of positive and negative emotion regulation in remitted depression. Neuroimage Clin 2022; 34:102988. [PMID: 35298997 PMCID: PMC8924423 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2022.102988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
RRMDD patients show deviant uninstructed neural emotion regulation. This is reflected in residual problems in daily strategy use. RRMDD patients are capable to engage frontolimbic areas upon instructed reappraisal. Neural regulation capacity is related to inadequate rumination. Positive, next to negative, affect is highly relevant for understanding vulnerability.
The recurrent nature of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) necessitates a better understanding of mechanisms facilitating relapse. MDD has often been associated with abnormal emotion regulation, underpinned by aberrant interactions between the prefrontal cortex and subcortical areas. We assessed whether neural regulation abnormalities remain after remission and relate to emotion regulation problems in daily life. At the baseline measurement of a randomized controlled trial, an emotion regulation task was performed during fMRI scanning by 46 remitted recurrent (rrMDD) patients and 24 healthy controls. We assessed both fMRI peak activity and the temporal dynamics of the neural response during passive attendance and explicit regulation of positive and negative emotions. Furthermore, we assessed regulation strategy use in daily life using questionnaires, and attentional biases using a modified attentional dot-probe task. RrMDD patients showed lower activation and different temporal dynamics in occipital, parietal, and prefrontal brain regions during passive attendance of emotional material compared to healthy controls. During explicit downregulation of negative emotions, no group differences were found. However, during explicit upregulation of positive emotions, rrMDD patients showed a different neural response over time in the insula. Behaviourally, rrMDD patients were characterized by dysfunctional regulation strategies in daily life. Within rrMDD patients, rumination was associated with activation within a limbic- prefrontal network. After remission, immediate emotional processing seems unaffected, but regulatory abnormalities remain, especially uninstructed and in daily life. Abnormal insula activation during positive upregulation suggests decreased monitoring of positive emotions. The relation between inadequate rumination and brain activity during emotion regulation suggests that regulation of both positive and negative affect is important in understanding neurocognitive underpinnings of resilience.
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Dell'Acqua C, Dal Bò E, Moretta T, Palomba D, Messerotti Benvenuti S. EEG time-frequency analysis reveals blunted tendency to approach and increased processing of unpleasant stimuli in dysphoria. Sci Rep 2022; 12:8161. [PMID: 35581359 PMCID: PMC9113991 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12263-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
To date, affective and cognitive processing of emotional information in individuals with depressive symptoms have been examined through peripheral psychophysiological measures, event-related potentials, and time–frequency analysis of oscillatory activity. However, electrocortical correlates of emotional and cognitive processing of affective content in depression have not been fully understood. Time–frequency analysis of electroencephalographic activity allows disentangling the brain's parallel processing of information. The present study employed a time–frequency approach to simultaneously examine affective disposition and cognitive processing during the viewing of emotional stimuli in dysphoria. Time–frequency event-related changes were examined during the viewing of pleasant, neutral and unpleasant pictures in 24 individuals with dysphoria and 24 controls. Affective disposition was indexed by delta and alpha power, while theta power was employed as a correlate of cognitive elaboration of the stimuli. Cluster-based statistics revealed a centro-parietal reduction in delta power for pleasant stimuli in individuals with dysphoria relative to controls. Also, dysphoria was characterized by an early fronto-central increase in theta power for unpleasant stimuli relative to neutral and pleasant ones. Comparatively, controls were characterized by a late fronto-central and occipital reduction in theta power for unpleasant stimuli relative to neutral and pleasant. The present study granted novel insights on the interrelated facets of affective elaboration in dysphoria, mainly characterized by a hypoactivation of the approach-related motivational system and a sustained facilitated cognitive processing of unpleasant stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carola Dell'Acqua
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia 8, 35131, Padua, Italy. .,Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padua, Via Orus 2/B, 35131, Padua, Italy.
| | - Elisa Dal Bò
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia 8, 35131, Padua, Italy.,Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padua, Via Orus 2/B, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Tania Moretta
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia 8, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Daniela Palomba
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia 8, 35131, Padua, Italy.,Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padua, Via Orus 2/B, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Simone Messerotti Benvenuti
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia 8, 35131, Padua, Italy.,Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padua, Via Orus 2/B, 35131, Padua, Italy
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Johnson KVA, Steenbergen L. Gut feelings: vagal stimulation reduces emotional biases. Neuroscience 2022; 494:119-131. [PMID: 35550161 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.04.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The vagus nerve is a key physical constituent of the gut-brain axis. Increasing attention has recently been paid to the role that the gut, and the microorganisms inhabiting it, play in emotion and cognition. Animal studies have revealed the importance of the vagus nerve in mediating communication between the gut microbiome and the central nervous system, resulting in changes in emotional behaviour. This has renewed interest in understanding the role of vagal signalling in human emotion, particularly since human studies have also shown that alterations in gut microbiome composition can affect emotion. While stimulating the vagus nerve can help treat some cases of severe depression, here we investigate whether vagal afferent signalling can influence emotional processing in healthy subjects. We use the dot-probe task to determine the effect of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation on attentional biases towards emotional stimuli in 42 volunteers. Participants received both active and sham treatments using a within-subject design. We show that transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation reduces the emotional bias towards faces expressing sadness and happiness, indicating a decrease in emotional reactivity. While our novel findings reveal the effect that vagal signalling can have on emotional biases in healthy subjects, future studies should seek to develop our understanding of the ways in which the microbiome interacts with, and stimulates, the vagus nerve. Since we find a reduction in emotional bias, most notably towards sadness, this may partly account for the effective use of vagus nerve stimulation in treatment-resistant depression. While its clinical application currently involves surgical stimulation, our results support the potential benefit of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation as a non-invasive, intermittent adjunctive therapy for patients with depression given its frequent association with emotional biases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina V A Johnson
- Leiden University, Institute of Psychology, Clinical Psychology Unit, Leiden 2333 AK, The Netherlands.
| | - Laura Steenbergen
- Leiden University, Institute of Psychology, Clinical Psychology Unit, Leiden 2333 AK, The Netherlands
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Emotional processing prospectively modulates the impact of anxiety on COVID-19 pandemic-related post-traumatic stress symptoms: an ERP study. J Affect Disord 2022; 303:245-254. [PMID: 35172175 PMCID: PMC8842094 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.02.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Considering that the elevated distress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, in some cases, led to post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), it has been proposed as a specific traumatic event. The present longitudinal study investigated pre-pandemic motivated attention to emotional stimuli, as indexed by Late Positive Potential (LPP) amplitude, in relation with the potential differential role of anxiety and depressive symptoms in predicting PTSS severity related to the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS A total of 79 university students initially completed self-report measures of depression and anxiety along with a passive viewing task of emotional (pleasant, unpleasant) and neutral pictures while electroencephaloghic activity was recorded. In December 2020, 57 participants completed a questionnaire assessing PTSS. RESULTS Significant interactions between anxiety and LPP emerged in predicting pandemic-related PTSS, where greater anxiety symptoms predicted PTSS only in individuals with greater LPP to unpleasant or with reduced LPP to pleasant stimuli. LIMITATIONS The prevalence of the female sex, the relatively young age of the participants, as well as the fact that they were all enrolled in a University course might not allow the generalization of the findings. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, the present longitudinal study provided novel evidence on EEG predictors of pandemic-related PTSS that might be useful for the prevention and treatment of PTSS. Indeed, assessing anxiety symptoms and pre-trauma LPP to emotional stimuli might be a useful target for identifying individuals that are more vulnerable to the development of PTSS during times of crisis.
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Slabbert A, Hasking P, Notebaert L, Boyes M. The Role of Distress Tolerance in the Relationship Between Affect and NSSI. Arch Suicide Res 2022; 26:761-775. [PMID: 33084535 DOI: 10.1080/13811118.2020.1833797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), the deliberate and self-inflicted damage of body tissue, typically serves an emotion regulation function. Both negative and positive affectivity have been associated with NSSI, as has low distress tolerance. In the current study, we tested whether relationships between both negative and positive affectivity and NSSI are moderated by the four facets of distress tolerance (tolerance, absorption, appraisal, regulation) captured by the Distress Tolerance Scale. METHODS A sample of 531 university students completed well-validated measures of NSSI, negative affectivity, positive affectivity, and distress tolerance. RESULTS Findings indicate that negative and positive affectivity, as well as the appraisal (i.e. negative perceptions of distress) and absorption (i.e. allocation of attention to distress) facets of distress tolerance, were directly associated with NSSI. Positive affectivity and appraisal also interacted in differentiating participants with recent, lifetime and no history of NSSI. Specifically, the association between negative perceptions of distress and self-injury was weaker at high levels of positive affectivity. Positive affectivity and absorption also interacted to differentiate between individuals with no history of NSSI and individuals who recently engaged in NSSI. Specifically, positive affectivity was negatively associated with self-injury, but only among individuals who allocate less attention to their distress. CONCLUSIONS Considering the independent roles of negative and positive affectivity alongside specific facets of distress tolerance and their interactions with emotional experience, may enhance understanding of NSSI. Prevention and intervention initiatives that assist regulation of negative affectivity, increase positive affectivity, and improve distress tolerance, may reduce the likelihood of engaging in self-injury.HighlightsNegative and positive affectivity are independently associated with NSSIAppraisal and absorption facets of distress tolerance are associated with NSSIPositive affectivity moderates associations between appraisal and absorption and NSSI.
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The effects of reward and frustration in patients with bipolar disorder: Evidence from a computerized task with non-contingent feedback. J Affect Disord 2022; 298:69-79. [PMID: 34715178 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.10.067] [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: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bipolar disorder (BD) is characterized by mood changes that implies alterations in reward sensitivity and frustration tolerance. This study examined the effects of monetary reward and frustration on attentional performance and on affective experience across mood states in BD. METHODS An Affective Posner Task in which the nature of contingencies are divided in the three successive blocks (baseline condition, monetary reward and non-contingent feedback) was applied to BD individuals in their different episodes: mania (n = 30), depression (n = 30), and euthymia (n = 30) as well as to a group of healthy controls (n = 30). RESULTS Monetary reward improved performance (in terms of faster response times) in the euthymic group and the control group, whereas it impaired performance in the manic group and has not significant effect in the depressed group. In addition, an increased interference of frustration on response accuracy was exhibited in the three groups of BD patients (including euthymia) compared with healthy controls. LIMITATIONS Participants' affective experience was self-informed by a Likert scale, so the reliability of this measure can be undermined in symptomatic patients in terms of stability and objectivity. Although it was statistically controlled, at the time of testing, all BD patients were medicated. CONCLUSIONS A dissociated effect of reward and frustration was found between symptomatic and euthymic states in BD: whereas the benefit from monetary reward is affected only during symptomatic episodes (i.e., a state), the notably increased interference of frustration is exhibited also during euthymia (i.e., a trait).
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Abstract
Humans, like other animals, are fundamentally motivated to pursue rewarding outcomes and avoid aversive ones. Anxiety disorders are conceptualized, defined, and treated based on heightened sensitivity to perceived aversive outcomes, including imminent threats as well as those that are uncertain yet could occur in the future. Avoidance is the central strategy used to mitigate anticipated aversive outcomes - often at the cost of sacrificing potential rewards and hindering people from obtaining desired outcomes. It is for these reasons that people are often motivated to seek treatment. In this chapter, we consider whether and how anhedonia - the loss of interest in pursuing and/or reduced responsiveness to rewarding outcomes - may serve as a barrier to recovering from clinically impairing anxiety. Increasingly recognized as a prominent symptom in many individuals with elevated anxiety, anhedonia is not explicitly considered within prevailing theoretical models or treatment approaches of anxiety. Our goal, therefore, is to review what is known about anhedonia within the anxiety disorders and then integrate this knowledge into a functional perspective to consider how anhedonia could maintain anxiety and limit treatment response. Our overarching thesis is that anhedonia disrupts the key processes that are central to supporting anxiety recovery. We end this chapter by considering how explicitly targeting anhedonia in treatment can optimize outcomes for anxiety disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles T Taylor
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
- San Diego State University/University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA, USA.
| | - Samantha N Hoffman
- San Diego State University/University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Amanda J Khan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
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Platt B, Sfärlea A, Buhl C, Loechner J, Neumüller J, Asperud Thomsen L, Starman-Wöhrle K, Salemink E, Schulte-Körne G. An Eye-Tracking Study of Attention Biases in Children at High Familial Risk for Depression and Their Parents with Depression. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2022; 53:89-108. [PMID: 33398688 PMCID: PMC8813682 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-020-01105-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Attention biases (AB) are a core component of cognitive models of depression yet it is unclear what role they play in the transgenerational transmission of depression. 44 children (9-14 years) with a high familial risk of depression (HR) were compared on multiple measures of AB with 36 children with a low familial risk of depression (LR). Their parents: 44 adults with a history of depression (HD) and 36 adults with no history of psychiatric disorder (ND) were also compared. There was no evidence of group differences in AB; neither between the HR and LR children, nor between HD and ND parents. There was no evidence of a correlation between parent and child AB. The internal consistency of the tasks varied greatly. The Dot-Probe Task showed unacceptable reliability whereas the behavioral index of the Visual-Search Task and an eye-tracking index of the Passive-Viewing Task showed better reliability. There was little correlation between the AB tasks and the tasks showed minimal convergence with symptoms of depression or anxiety. The null-findings of the current study contradict our expectations and much of the previous literature. They may be due to the poor psychometric properties associated with some of the AB indices, the unreliability of AB in general, or the relatively modest sample size. The poor reliability of the tasks in our sample suggest caution should be taken when interpreting the positive findings of previous studies which have used similar methods and populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- B. Platt
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, Nußbaumstr. 5a, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - A. Sfärlea
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, Nußbaumstr. 5a, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - C. Buhl
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, Nußbaumstr. 5a, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - J. Loechner
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, Nußbaumstr. 5a, 80336 Munich, Germany ,Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - J. Neumüller
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, Nußbaumstr. 5a, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - L. Asperud Thomsen
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, Nußbaumstr. 5a, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - K. Starman-Wöhrle
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, Nußbaumstr. 5a, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - E. Salemink
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - G. Schulte-Körne
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, Nußbaumstr. 5a, 80336 Munich, Germany
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Li S, Fan L. Media multitasking, depression, and anxiety of college students: Serial mediating effects of attention control and negative information attentional bias. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:989201. [PMID: 36061274 PMCID: PMC9433771 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.989201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 epidemic provides an environment for frequent media multitasking, which might associate with an increase in depression and anxiety. Since many studies have found that media multitasking negatively affects cognitive capacity, we propose a cognitive perspective to explore how media multitasking may associate with mental health. This study examined the potential mediating role of attention control and negative information attentional bias in the relationship between media multitasking and anxiety and depression. METHODS Participants (n = 567) were recruited from college students in China. They completed an online survey that included the Media Multitasking Inventory (MMI), Attention Control Scale (ACS), Attention to Positive and Negative Information Scale (APNI), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). After exploring the correlations between the measures, serial mediation models were examined. RESULTS The results indicated significant positive correlations between media multitasking and anxiety and depression. Media multitasking, anxiety, and depression were negatively correlated with attention focusing, while positively correlated with negative information attention bias. Media multitasking did not correlate with attention shifting. Mediation modeling demonstrated that attention focusing and negative information attention bias played a serial mediating role in the relationship between media multitasking and anxiety and depression. However, the results did not support the serial mediation model through attention shifting and negative information attention bias. CONCLUSION Media multitasking does not directly influence anxiety and depression, while attention focusing and negative information attention bias play serial mediating roles in their relationship. This study highlights the potential cognitive mechanisms between media multitasking and anxiety and depression, providing theoretical support for interventions in individual mental health during the epidemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyi Li
- Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education, Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China.,Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Social Science Laboratory of Students' Mental Development and Learning, Tianjin, China
| | - Lifang Fan
- Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
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Psychological risk factors and the course of depression and anxiety disorders: A review of 15 years NESDA research. J Affect Disord 2021; 295:1347-1359. [PMID: 34706448 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.08.086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA; Nbaseline=2981) is an ongoing longitudinal, multi-site, naturalistic, cohort study examining the etiology, course, and consequences of depression and anxiety. In this article we synthesize and evaluate fifteen years of NESDA research on prominent psychological risk factors for the onset, persistence, recurrence, and comorbidity of affective disorders. METHODS A narrative review of 62 NESDA articles examining the specificity and predictive value of neuroticism, behavioral inhibition, repetitive negative thinking, experiential avoidance, cognitive reactivity, locus of control, (implicit) self-esteem, (implicit) disorder-specific self-associations, and attentional bias for the course of affective disorders. RESULTS All self-reported risk factors showed cross-sectional relationships with singular and comorbid affective disorders, and prospective relationships with the development and chronicity of depression and anxiety disorders. High neuroticism, low self-esteem, and negative repetitive thinking showed most prominent transdiagnostic relationships, whereas cognitive reactivity showed most pronounced depression-specific associations. Implicit self-esteem showed predictive validity for the persistence and recurrence of anxiety and depression over and above self-reported risk factors. Automatic approach-avoidance behavior and attentional bias for negative, positive, or threat words showed no relationship with affective disorders. CONCLUSION NESDA identified both (a) transdiagnostic factors (e.g., neuroticism, low implicit self-esteem, repetitive negative thinking) that may help explain the comorbidity between affective disorders and overlap in symptoms, and (b) indications for disorder-specific risk factors (e.g., cognitive responsivity) which support the relevance of distinct disorder categories and disorder-specific mechanisms. Thus, the results point to the relevance of both transdiagnostic and disorder-specific targets for therapeutic interventions.
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Byrne KA, Six SG, Willis HC. Examining the effect of depressive symptoms on habit formation and habit-breaking. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 2021; 73:101676. [PMID: 34298256 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2021.101676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Revised: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Dysfunction in reward processing is a hallmark feature of depression. In the context of reinforcement learning, previous research has linked depression with reliance on simple habit-driven ('model-free') learning strategies over more complex, goal-directed ('model-based') strategies. However, the relationship between depression and habit-breaking remains an under-explored research area. The current study sought to bridge this gap by investigating the effect of depressive symptoms on habit formation and habit-breaking under monetary and social feedback conditions. Additionally, we examined whether spontaneous eyeblink rate (EBR), an indirect marker for striatal dopamine levels, would modulate such effects. METHODS Depressive symptoms were operationalized using self-report measures. To examine differences in habit formation and habit breaking, undergraduate participants (N = 156) completed a two-stage reinforcement learning task with a devaluation procedure using either monetary or social feedback. RESULTS Regression results showed that in the monetary feedback condition, spontaneous EBR moderated the relationship between depressive symptoms and model-free strategies; individuals with more depressive symptomatology and high EBR (higher dopamine levels) exhibited increased reliance on model-free strategies. Depressive symptoms negatively predicted devaluation sensitivity, indicative of difficulty in habit-breaking, in both monetary and social feedback contexts. LIMITATIONS Social feedback relied on fixed feedback rather than real-time peer evaluations; depressive symptoms were measured using self-report rather than diagnostic criteria for Major Depressive Disorder; dopaminergic functioning was measured using EBR rather than PET imaging; potential confounds were not controlled for. CONCLUSIONS These findings have implications for identifying altered patterns of habit formation and deficits in habit-breaking among those experiencing depressive symptoms.
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Mellor RL, Psouni E. The Study of Security Priming on Avoidant Attentional Biases: Combining Microsaccadic Eye-Movement Measurement With a Dot-Probe Task. Front Psychol 2021; 12:726817. [PMID: 34744893 PMCID: PMC8566336 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.726817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Microsaccades are small fixational eye movements that have shown to index covert attentional shifts. The present experiment combined microsaccades with performance measures from a dot-probe task to study influences of attachment security priming on the attentional biases of individuals high in attachment avoidance. Security priming is an experimental manipulation aimed at boosting felt security. Using a randomized, mixed design, we measured differences in attentional vigilance toward angry and neutral faces as a function of priming (neutral vs. secure) and attachment avoidance. Individuals high in avoidance habitually tend to withdraw from, or otherwise dismiss, emotionally salient stimuli. Here, we operationalized attentional withdrawal based on both task performance in the dot-probe task and microsaccadic movements. In addition, unlike previous studies where priming salience for the individual participant has been unclear, we used a standardized narrative method for attachment script assessment, securing an indication of how strongly each participant was primed. Dot-probe data significantly captured the link between avoidance and attentional disengagement, though from all facial stimuli (angry and neutral). Although microsaccadic movements did not capture avoidant attentional disengagement, they positively correlated to dot-probe data suggesting measurement convergence. Avoidance was associated with weaker security priming and no overall effect of priming on attention was found, indicating a need for further exploration of suitable priming methods to bypass avoidant deactivation. Our results provide a first indication that, as an implicit looking measure, microsaccadic movements can potentially reveal where early attention is directed at the exact moment of stimulus presentation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elia Psouni
- Department of Psychology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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44
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Moretta T, Dal Bò E, Dell'Acqua C, Messerotti Benvenuti S, Palomba D. Disentangling emotional processing in dysphoria: An ERP and cardiac deceleration study. Behav Res Ther 2021; 147:103985. [PMID: 34628258 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2021.103985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate emotional processing in dysphoria. To this end, the amplitude of the Late Positive Potential (LPP) and cardiac deceleration were assessed during the passive viewing of affective (pleasant, neutral, and unpleasant) pictures in 26 individuals with dysphoria and in 25 non-depressed controls. The group with dysphoria revealed a smaller LPP amplitude than the group without dysphoria in response to pleasant and neutral, but not unpleasant, stimuli at centro-parieto-occipital sites. Interestingly, whereas both groups showed cardiac deceleration when viewing pleasant compared to neutral pictures (3-6 s time window), only individuals with dysphoria showed a prolonged cardiac deceleration in response to unpleasant stimuli as compared with neutral ones. This study suggests that dysphoria is characterized by reduced motivated attentional allocation to positive information and by sustained intake of unpleasant information. Overall, the present findings provide novel insights into the characterization of valence-specific attentional processes in dysphoria as potential vulnerability factors for clinically significant depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Moretta
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia 8, 35131, Padua, Italy.
| | - Elisa Dal Bò
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia 8, 35131, Padua, Italy; Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padua, Via Orus 2/B, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Carola Dell'Acqua
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia 8, 35131, Padua, Italy; Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padua, Via Orus 2/B, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Simone Messerotti Benvenuti
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia 8, 35131, Padua, Italy; Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padua, Via Orus 2/B, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Daniela Palomba
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Via Venezia 8, 35131, Padua, Italy; Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padua, Via Orus 2/B, 35131, Padua, Italy
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Khazanov GK, Forbes CN, Dunn BD, Thase ME. Addressing anhedonia to increase depression treatment engagement. BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY 2021; 61:255-280. [PMID: 34625993 DOI: 10.1111/bjc.12335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Anhedonia, or reward system dysfunction, is associated with poorer treatment outcomes among depressed individuals. The role of anhedonia in treatment engagement, however, has not yet been explored. We review research on components of reward functioning impaired in depression, including effort valuation, reward anticipation, initial responsiveness, reward learning, reward probability, and reward delay, highlighting potential barriers to treatment engagement associated with these components. We then propose interventions to improve treatment initiation and continuation by addressing deficits in each component of reward functioning, focusing on modifications of existing evidence-based interventions to meet the needs of individuals with heightened anhedonia. We describe potential settings for these interventions and times at which they can be delivered during the process of referring individuals to mental health treatment, conducting intakes or assessments, and providing treatment. Additionally, we note the advantages of using screening processes already in place in primary care, workplace, school, and online settings to identify individuals with heightened anhedonia who may benefit from these interventions. We conclude with suggestions for future research on the impact of anhedonia on treatment engagement and the efficacy of interventions to address it. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Many depressed individuals who might benefit from treatment do not initiate it or discontinue early. One barrier to treatment engagement may be anhedonia, a core symptom of depression characterized by loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities. We describe brief interventions to improve treatment engagement in individuals with anhedonia that can be implemented during the referral process or early in treatment. We argue that interventions aiming to improve treatment engagement in depressed individuals that target anhedonia may be particularly effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela K Khazanov
- Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center of the Veterans Integrated Service Network 4, Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | | | - Michael E Thase
- Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center of the Veterans Integrated Service Network 4, Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Guha A, Yee CM, Heller W, Miller GA. Alterations in the default mode-salience network circuit provide a potential mechanism supporting negativity bias in depression. Psychophysiology 2021; 58:e13918. [PMID: 34403515 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Aberrant effective connectivity between default mode (DMN) and salience (SAL) networks may support the tendency of depressed individuals to find it difficult to disengage from self-focused, negatively-biased thinking and may contribute to the onset and maintenance of depression. Assessment of effective connectivity, which can statistically characterize the direction of influence between regions within neural circuits, may provide new insights into the nature of DMN-SAL connectivity disruptions in depression. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was collected from 38 individuals with a history of major depression and 50 healthy comparison participants during completion of an emotion-word Stroop task. Activation within DMN and SAL networks and effective connectivity between DMN and SAL, assessed via Granger causality, were examined. Individuals with a history of depression exhibited greater overall network activation, greater directed connectivity from DMN to SAL, and less directed connectivity from SAL to DMN than healthy comparison participants during negative-word trials. Among individuals with a history of depression, greater DMN-to-SAL connectivity was associated with lower overall network activation and worse task performance during positive-word trials; this pattern was not observed among healthy participants. Present findings indicate that greater network activation and, specifically, influence of DMN on SAL, support negativity bias among previously depressed individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anika Guha
- Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Cindy M Yee
- Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Wendy Heller
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Gregory A Miller
- Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
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Abstract
Abstract
Purpose of Review
Anhedonia is a transdiagnostic symptom comprising reduced subjective reward or pleasure. Anhedonia influences subjective anticipation and in-the-moment experiences. This review draws together affective learning and engagement evidence for anhedonia affecting subjective experiences of social environments.
Recent Findings
While social engagement is diminished consistently, subjective appraisals of social contexts vary across different mental health disorders. Low positive affect during social experiences or stimuli is reported in PTSD, mood, schizophrenia, and anxiety disorders. Diminished neural reward networks underpin the anticipation of social experiences in ADHD, schizophrenia spectrum, and autistic spectrum disorders. Multiple theories exist to explain how anhedonia might interfere with social environments.
Summary
Anhedonia is a barrier to engagement, motivation, and enjoyment of social contexts. While many studies characterize experiences during social contexts, learning theories provide the most promise for developing targeted interventions.
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Attentional Processing of Threat in Bipolar Disorder: Going Beyond Mood-Congruency. JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10862-021-09905-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Han S, Hu Y, Wang L, Pei Y, Zhu Z, Qi X, Wu B. Perceived Discrimination and Symptoms of Cognitive Dysfuntion Among Middle-Age and Older Persons Living With HIV in China: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study of the Mediating Role of Mental Health Symptoms and Social Isolation. J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care 2021; 32:442-452. [PMID: 33927145 DOI: 10.1097/jnc.0000000000000264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Perceived discrimination is associated with symptoms of cognitive dysfunction (SOCD) among middle-age and older persons living with HIV (PLWH). We aimed to explore how the association between perceived discrimination and SOCD was mediated by mental health symptoms and social isolation. The sample included 321 PLWH, ages 45 years and older, for a multicenter cross-sectional study. Structural equation modeling showed an acceptable model fit and a significant total indirect effect between perceived discrimination and SOCD. All three indirect effect pathways were significant, suggesting that perceived discrimination could influence SOCD through mental health symptoms, through social isolation, or through mental health symptoms and then social isolation. Our study demonstrates that perceived discrimination is a concern for the management of cognitive function among middle-age and older PLWH. Both mental health symptoms and social isolation are critical elements in the design and evaluation of interventions for promoting cognitive health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyu Han
- Shuyu Han, MSN, RN, is a Doctoral Candidate, School of Nursing, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Yan Hu, PhD, RN, FAAN, is a Professor and Dean, School of Nursing, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, and is the Director of Fudan University Centre for Evidence-based Nursing: A Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence, Shanghai, China. Lina Wang, PhD, RN, is a Professor, School of Medicine, Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang, China. Yaolin Pei, PhD, is a Postdoctoral Fellow, Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York University, New York, New York, USA. Zheng Zhu, PhD, RN, is a Faculty Member, School of Nursing, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, and a Core Researcher of Fudan University Centre for Evidence-based Nursing: A Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence, Shanghai, China. Xiang Qi, BSN, RN, is a Doctoral Candidate, Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York University, New York, New York, USA. Bei Wu, PhD, is the Dean's Professor in Global Health, the Director for Global Health and Aging Research, and the Director for Research, Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing, Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York University, New York, New York, USA
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Abstract
Depression is both prevalent and costly, and many individuals do not adequately respond to existing psychopharmacological and behavioral interventions. The current article describes the use of neuroscience in augmenting behavioral interventions for depression in two primary areas: anhedonia and cognitive deficits/biases. Neuroscience research has increased our understanding of the neural bases of reward processing and regulation of positive affect, and anhedonia among depressed samples can be related to deficits in each of these domains. Treatments that specifically target reward processing and regulation of positive affect in order to reduce anhedonia represent a recent advance in the field. Depression is also associated with aberrant processes relating to working memory, autobiographical memory, attentional bias, and interpretive bias. Neuroscience findings have increasingly been leveraged to augment the efficacy of cognitive-training and bias-modification interventions in these domains. The use of neuroscience to inform the development and augmentation of behavioral interventions for depression is a promising avenue of continued research.
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