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Thought suppression and cognitive vulnerability to depression.
1Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands. vanderdoes@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
The British Journal of Clinical Psychology
|April 14, 2005
Summary
Cognitive reactivity (CR) predicts depression relapse. This study found that while a questionnaire (LEIDS) indicated higher CR in previously depressed individuals, a mood induction task did not. Thought suppression may explain this difference.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Clinical psychology
- Psychopathology
Background:
- Cognitive reactivity (CR) is the tendency for maladaptive thoughts to emerge during mood changes.
- CR predicts relapse in individuals with a history of depression.
- The mechanisms underlying CR, such as thought suppression, require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare different measures of cognitive reactivity.
- To examine the role of thought suppression in cognitive reactivity.
- To investigate cognitive reactivity in previously depressed versus never depressed individuals.
Main Methods:
- Participants included 24 previously depressed and 24 never depressed individuals.
- A mood induction procedure was employed.
- Cognitive reactivity was assessed using the LEIDS questionnaire and a scrambled sentences task (SST) to measure thought suppression.
Main Results:
- Previously depressed individuals scored higher on the LEIDS than never depressed individuals.
- Cognitive reactivity measured via mood induction did not differ between groups.
- LEIDS scores correlated with SST results and self-reported thought suppression.
Conclusions:
- The LEIDS may be a more sensitive measure of CR in previously depressed individuals than mood induction.
- Active thought suppression might contribute to the suppressed cognitive activity observed in individuals during depressive remission.