Intrusive Thoughts in Depression

Neural signatures of stress susceptibility and resilience in the amygdala-hippocampal network

The neural dynamics that underlie divergent anhedonic responses to stress remain unclear. Here, we identified neuronal dynamics in an amygdala-hippocampal circuit that distinguish stress resilience and susceptibility. In a reward-choice task, basolateral amygdala (BLA) activity in resilient mice showed enhanced discrimination of upcoming reward choices. In contrast, a rumination-like signature emerged in the BLA of susceptible mice; a linear decoder could classify the intention to switch or stay on a previously chosen reward. Spontaneous activity in the BLA of susceptible mice was higher dimensional than controls, reflecting the exploration of a larger number of distinct neural states. Manipulation of vCA1-BLA inputs rescued dysfunctional neural dynamics and anhedonia in susceptible mice, suggesting that targeting this pathway can enhance BLA circuit function and ameliorate of depression-related behaviors.

From intrusive to oscillating thoughts

This paper focused on the possibility that intrusive thoughts (ITs) are a form of an evolutionary, adaptive, and complex strategy to prepare for and resolve stressful life events through schema formation. Intrusive thoughts have been studied in relation to individual conditions, such as traumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. They have also been documented in the average person experiencing everyday stress. In many descriptions of thought intrusion, it is accompanied by thought suppression. Several theories have been put forth to describe ITs, although none provides a satisfactory explanation as to whether ITs are a normal process, a normal process gone astray, or a sign of pathology. There is also no consistent view of the role that thought suppression plays in the process. I propose that thought intrusion and thought suppression may be better understood by examining them together as a complex and adaptive mechanism capable of escalating in times of need. The ability of a biological mechanism to scale up in times of need is one hallmark of a complex and adaptive system. Other hallmarks of complexity, including self-similarity across scales, sensitivity to initial conditions, presence of feedback loops, and system oscillation, are also discussed in this article. Finally, I propose that thought intrusion and thought suppression are better described together as an oscillatory cycle.

Emotionsregulation und Gedankenunterdrückung: Aspekte der Entwicklung von Depressionen und deren Implikationen

Zusammenfassung. Prominentes Merkmal von Depressionen ist die Störung der Regulation von Stimmungen und Emotionen. Emotionsregulatorische Aspekte werden allerdings häufig vernachlässigt bei der konzeptionellen Fassung und der Behandlung von Depressionen. Im vorliegenden Artikel wird die Rolle dieser Aspekte bei der Entstehung von Depressionen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung von Gedankenunterdrückung als eines Versuches von Emotionsregulation dargestellt. Der willentliche Versuch an etwas, das die Stimmung negativ beeinflussen könnte, nicht zu denken, hat nicht nur langfristig den paradoxen Effekt, dass dieser Gedanke infolge besonders häufig auftritt und die gedankliche Kontrolle verloren geht, sondern zeigt auch eine Reihe weiterer kognitiver wie emotionaler Folgen, die bei der Entstehung von Depressionen eine wichtige Rolle spielen. Die Implikationen dieser Befunde werden diskutiert und expressives Schreiben nach Pennebaker im Rahmen des Präventionsprogramms “JES!“ (Jugendpräventionsprogramm mit Expressivem Schreiben) als eine Möglichkeit emotionsregulationsfördernder Maßnahmen vorgestellt.