Behavioral Excesses in Depression: A Learning Theory Hypothesis

Abstract

This paper reviews two learning theory-based models of experiential contributions to depression: response contingent positive reinforcement and learned helplessness. The authors argue that these models connect to a phenomenon that may explain why symptoms of behavioral excess (e.g. rumination) often occur in depression that is otherwise marked by symptoms of behavioral deficit (e.g. anhedonia). Specifically, the authors illustrate that that concept of schedule strain (or low rates of response contingent reinforcement giving rise to low frequencies of behavior) unites these models. Depression is more likely, or more severe, when schedule strain conditions occur in situations containing reinforcers important to the individual and/or when they simultaneously occur in a number of situations. Conditions of schedule strain are known to give rise to adjunctive behaviors: apparently irrelevant, easy behaviors that deliver immediate reinforcement. This paper suggests that, for some depressed individuals, behavioral excess symptoms like rumination and overeating might serve adjunctive functions. Implications of this hypothesis are discussed.

Behavioral Activation Theory to Identify Depression among HIV-Positive Women of Color in the U.S. South

“…At diagnosis proved to be a critical time for many of the women. [4,12] They often expressed denial of their HIV positive status or a return to some of the negative habits [14,[18][19][20][21] that may have contributed to contracting HIV. Also at this stage, many of the women did not use the terminology "depression," but rather spoke of their negative behaviors [12,18,19] (i.e.…”

“…positive HIV diagnosis and other negative life events) [14,19,20,22] contribute to the development of depression and could be utilized in depression identification. [19][20][21] Qualitative data analysis. Grounded theory methodology guided the analysis 25 (insert "25" source cite here), during which specific themes related to women's report of depression emerged from the transcripts.…”

“…The Behavioral Activation (BA) Theory [19,20] has been used to develop interventions for depression and hypothesizes that these correlating factors are not only co-occurring but are actually contributing to the development of depression and could be utilized in depression identification. [19][20][21] BA Theory establishes depression as an aversive emotional response to a negative event (i.e. HIV+ diagnosis).…”

Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depression: A Learning Theory Connection

“…Dygdon and Dienes [22] argue that there is value in identifying the reinforcement schedule strain condition common to the RCPR and LH models. It has been demonstrated across species, including human beings [43][44][45], that when behaviors secure reinforcement only rarely (e.g., a writer crafting the many sentences that will be reinforced when an important paper is completed) the behaving organism will take breaks from engaging in the behavior that the schedule demands (e.g., writing) and instead engage in a simple behavior that provides quick, immediate, reinforcement (e.g., the writer may take breaks to snack).…”

“…We will next describe a hypothesis elucidated by Dygdon and Dienes [22] and apply it to the conceptualization of worry in GAD. While many argue that depression is secondary to the life restrictions that chronic worrying imposes (and this may well be true for those who use worry as an avoidance response), this hypothesis will raise the possibility of a different connection between depression and GAD While there are certainly biologically based predispositions to depression, it is widely recognized that life experiences contribute to the disorder [23,24].…”