Mapping the interplay among cognitive biases, emotion regulation, and depressive symptoms

Abstract

Cognitive biases and emotion regulation (ER) difficulties have been instrumental in understanding hallmark features of depression. However, little is known about the interplay among these important risk factors to depression. This cross-sectional study investigated how multiple cognitive biases modulate the habitual use of ER processes and how ER habits subsequently regulate depressive symptoms. All participants first executed a computerized version of the scrambled sentences test (interpretation bias measure) while their eye movements were registered (attention bias measure) and then completed questionnaires assessing positive reappraisal, brooding, and depressive symptoms. Path and bootstrapping analyses supported both direct effects of cognitive biases on depressive symptoms and indirect effects via the use of brooding and via the use of reappraisal that was in turn related to the use of brooding. These findings help to formulate a better understanding of how cognitive biases and ER habits interact to maintain depressive symptoms.

Specificity and overlap of attention and memory biases in depression

“…The absence of any direct association between depressive symptoms and attentional bias, neither as a unique nor an overlapping partition, suggests that biased attention might exert its influence on depression mostly via indirect pathways (Kraemer et al, 2001;Mathieu & Taylor, 2006). In keeping with this idea, a recent cross-sectional study showed that attentional bias can account for concurrent depressive symptoms via multiple mediation of interpretation bias, ruminative thinking, and emotion regulation strategies (Everaert et al, 2017). Therefore, although we did not find evidence of an overlap between the two considered biases in subclinical samples, other types of interplay between these biases are possible and worth exploring.…”

“…The present research presents data from four independent studies: Study #1 (Everaert et al, 2013), Study #2 (Everaert et al, 2014), Study #3 (Everaert et al, 2017), and Study #4 (Pearson, McGeary, Maddox, & Beevers, 2016).…”

“…Attentional bias was operationalized as the ratio between the number of fixations on negative words and the total number of fixations on emotional (negative and positive) words (Fixneg). A total of 60 (Study #2) or 28 (Study #3) emotional scrambled sentences were administered to each participant (for further methodological details, see (Everaert et al, 2014(Everaert et al, , 2017.…”

A comprehensive meta-analysis of interpretation biases in depression

“…These findings have important theoretical, methodological, and clinical implications that warrant further research. (Beard et al, 2017;Beevers, Wells, Ellis, & Fischer, 2009;Beharomitrani, Carver, Ganellen, Behar-Mitrani, & Beharomitrani, 1985;Belli, 2013;Berna et al, 2011;Bisson & Sears, 2007;Blackwell et al, 2015;Blackwell & Holmes, 2010;Blaney, Behar, & Head, 1980;Bos, 2005;Bowler et al, 2012;Butler & Mathews, 1983;Cooper, Wade, & Cooper, 2015;Cowden Hindash & Amir, 2012;Cowden Hindash & Rottenberg, 2017;D'Avanzato, 2013;Dickson, 2015;Dohr, Rush, & Bernstein, 1989;Dugas et al, 2005;Everaert et al, 2016;Everaert, Duyck, & Koster, 2014;Everaert, Grahek, & Koster, 2017;Everaert, Mogoaşe, David, & Koster, 2015;Everaert, Tierens, Uzieblo, & Koster, 2013;Frost & MacInnis, 1983;Goggin, 2011;Gupta & Kar, 2008;Hähnel, 2008;Halberstadt et al, 2008;Hedlund & Rude, 1995;Hertel & El-Messidi, 2006;Holmes et al, 2008;Huppert, Foa, Furr, Filip, & Mathews, 2003;Juang & Knight, 2016;Käse et al, 2013;Kleim, Thörn, & Ehlert, 2014;Krantz & Hammen, 1979;Lambert, Benight, Wong, & Johnson, 2013;…”

Attentional Bias Modification is associated with fMRI Response towards Negative Stimuli in Residual Depression: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…4 Despite mixed findings, clinically depressed subjects, as well as currently euthymic previously depressed subjects, have repeatedly been reported to orient their attention toward negative faces rather than neutral or positive faces. [5][6][7][8][9][10] Attentional biases (AB) and deficits in cognitive control may interfere with emotion regulation and mood state.…”