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

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 computerised 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.

Regaining control of your emotions? Investigating the mechanisms underlying effects of cognitive control training for remitted depressed patients.

Studies suggest that cognitive control training shows potential as a preventive intervention for depression. At the same time, little is known regarding the mechanisms underlying effects of cognitive control training. Informed by theoretical frameworks of cognitive risk for recurrent depression (De Raedt & Koster, 2010; Siegle et al., 2007), the current study sought to model direct effects of cognitive control training on the complex interplay between affect, emotion regulation, residual symptomatology, and resilience in a sample of remitted depressed patients (n = 92). Combining a 4-week experience sampling procedure with an experimental manipulation of cognitive control, we observed beneficial effects of cognitive control training on deployment of rumination. In addition, we obtained evidence for the causal involvement of cognitive control in efficacy of emotion regulation. In contrast to our expectations, cognitive control training did not exert immediate effects on residual symptomatology or resilience when compared with an active control condition, nor did cognitive control training impact the complex interplay between these variables. Overall, immediate effects of cognitive control training on functioning in daily life were limited. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Between vulnerability and resilience: A network analysis of fluctuations in cognitive risk and protective factors following remission from depression.

Research exploring how cognitive risk- and protective factors relate following remission from internalizing disorders suggests a central role for resilience. However, it remains unclear what constitutes resilience in this context. Furthermore, previous studies have typically relied on cross-sectional data which do not allow to map the temporal dynamics of such relations. Using a seven-day experience sampling period in 85 remitted depressed patients, we examined the interplay between five transdiagnostic vulnerability- and protective factors in daily life. We present a temporal, contemporaneous, and a between-subjects network, providing an in-depth analysis of how these factors relate to daily life fluctuations in residual symptomatology. Furthermore, we test the role of positive affect as a main resilience factor. Resilience uniquely predicted all other factors over time (temporal network). Higher levels of resilience were related to less momentary use of rumination, more deployment of positive appraisal, and lower occurrence of residual symptoms (contemporaneous network). Participants scoring high on resilience mostly engaged in positive appraisal (between-subjects network). Similar structures were obtained when substituting self-reported resilience by positive affect. This highlights the importance of resilience, and in particular, positive affectivity, to cope with stressors following remission. This may be fostered by facilitating the use of positive appraisal.

Remediation of depression-related cognitive impairment: cognitive control training as treatment augmentation.

INTRODUCTION: Despite several available evidence-based interventions for major depression relapse, rates remain high and relapse prevention programs are still scarce. To increase effectiveness, novel techniques that target underlying vulnerability factors may be a promising avenue. Depression is associated with impairments in executive functioning, which is in turn associated with poor psychosocial outcomes and more Repetitive Negative Thinking (RNT), a key vulnerability factor for relapse. This paper examines deficits in cognitive control as a potentially modifiable causal mechanism for depression. Areas covered: An overview of studies on the interplay between cognitive control and RNT is presented, assessing the potential of training cognitive control in depressed individuals. Cognitive Control Training (CCT), or other techniques aimed at remediating executive functioning, provides an interesting way to examine the causal status of executive functions in depression-related symptoms, such as emotion regulation and psychosocial functioning. The clinical utility of CCT is assessed. Expert commentary: There is emerging evidence for clinical utility of CCT but more large-scale, longitudinal studies are required. The section discusses how the adaptive Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) can be used as a technique that can be combined with psychological as well as biological interventions, to increase overall effectiveness of treatment for depression.