Electroencephalographic findings in patients with major depressive disorder during cognitive or emotional tasks: a systematic review

Objective: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent psychiatric condition characterized by multiple symptoms that cause great distress. Uncovering the brain areas involved in MDD is essential for improving therapeutic strategies and predicting response to interventions. This systematic review discusses recent findings regarding cortical alterations in depressed patients during emotional or cognitive tasks, as measured by electroencephalography (EEG). Methods: A search of the MEDLINE/PubMed and Cochrane databases was carried out using the keywords EEG and depression, confined to article title. Results: The studies identified reveal the frontal cortex as an important brain structure involved in the complex neural processes associated with MDD. Findings point to disorganization of right-hemisphere activity and deficient cognitive processing in MDD. Depressed individuals tend to ruminate on negative information and respond with a pattern of relatively higher right frontal activity to emotional stimuli associated with withdrawal and isolation. Conclusion: Patients with MDD may have altered dynamic patterns of activity in several neuroanatomical structures, especially in prefrontal and limbic areas involved in affective regulation. Identification of these alterations might help predict the response of patients to different interventions more effectively and thus maximize the effects both of pharmacotherapeutic and of psychotherapeutic strategies.

Electroencephalographic findings in patients with major depressive disorder during cognitive or emotional tasks: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE:: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent psychiatric condition characterized by multiple symptoms that cause great distress. Uncovering the brain areas involved in MDD is essential for improving therapeutic strategies and predicting response to interventions. This systematic review discusses recent findings regarding cortical alterations in depressed patients during emotional or cognitive tasks, as measured by electroencephalography (EEG). METHODS:: A search of the MEDLINE/PubMed and Cochrane databases was carried out using the keywords EEG and depression, confined to article title. RESULTS:: The studies identified reveal the frontal cortex as an important brain structure involved in the complex neural processes associated with MDD. Findings point to disorganization of right-hemisphere activity and deficient cognitive processing in MDD. Depressed individuals tend to ruminate on negative information and respond with a pattern of relatively higher right frontal activity to emotional stimuli associated with withdrawal and isolation. CONCLUSION:: Patients with MDD may have altered dynamic patterns of activity in several neuroanatomical structures, especially in prefrontal and limbic areas involved in affective regulation. Identification of these alterations might help predict the response of patients to different interventions more effectively and thus maximize the effects both of pharmacotherapeutic and of psychotherapeutic strategies.

Terapia cognitivo-comportamental e coaching cognitivo-comportamental: como as duas práticas se integram e se diferenciam / Cognitive-behavioural therapy and cognitive-behavioural coaching: differences and similarities between the two approaches

O coaching cognitivo-comportamental (CCC) é um processo estruturado de estabelecimento e alcance de metas que se fundamenta sobre o princípio cognitivo-comportamental, que pressupõe que não são os eventos em si que deflagram respostas emocionais e comportamentais, mas a interpretação que os indivíduos apresentam sobre eles. Nesse sentido, o CCC é um processo de identificação e desbloqueio de padrões cognitivos que dificultam a realização e o alcance de objetivos vinculado a planos de ação para a mudança comportamental, tendo sido descrito como método eficaz para o alcance de resultados na vida profissional e pessoal. No entanto, a interface dessa prática com a terapia cognitivo-comportamental (TCC) tem sido pouco investigada no Brasil. Assim, este artigo tem como objetivo discutir algumas das principais semelhanças e diferenças entre essas duas práticas. Pretende-se, com essa discussão, contribuir para o fortalecimento da prática profissional fundamentada sobre a abordagem cognitivo-comportamental para além do contexto clínico no nosso país, tendo em vista que o CCC visa atuar com clientes que não preencham critérios diagnósticos para transtornos mentais ou que simplesmente almejam alcançar uma experiência de viver mais plena e dotada de significado(AU)

Cognitive-behavioral coaching (CBC) is a structured process of goal establishment and attainment that is grounded on the cognitive-behavioral principle that emotional and behavioral responses are not triggered by events per se but by the individual's interpretation of them. In this respect, the CBC is a process of identifying and unblocking cognitive patterns that difficult goal achievement, tagged to action plans targeting behavioral change. CBC has been described as an effective method for achieving results in both professional and personal dimensions of life. However, the interface of this practice with CBT has been little investigated in Brazil. Thus, the present article aims at attempting to bridge this gap by presenting and discussing some of the main similarities and differences between these two practices. It is intended that this discussion will contribute towards the strengthening of cognitive-behavioral-grounded practices beyond the clinical context in our country, with patients who do not fulfill diagnostic criteria for mental disorders or with those who simply aim at developing a more purposeful experience of living(AU)

Music-color associations are mediated by emotion.

Experimental evidence demonstrates robust cross-modal matches between music and colors that are mediated by emotional associations. US and Mexican participants chose colors that were most/least consistent with 18 selections of classical orchestral music by Bach, Mozart, and Brahms. In both cultures, faster music in the major mode produced color choices that were more saturated, lighter, and yellower whereas slower, minor music produced the opposite pattern (choices that were desaturated, darker, and bluer). There were strong correlations (0.89 < r < 0.99) between the emotional associations of the music and those of the colors chosen to go with the music, supporting an emotional mediation hypothesis in both cultures. Additional experiments showed similarly robust cross-modal matches from emotionally expressive faces to colors and from music to emotionally expressive faces. These results provide further support that music-to-color associations are mediated by common emotional associations.