Anticipation of affect in dysthymia: behavioral and neurophysiological indicators

Anticipation for future affective events and prediction uncertainty were examined in healthy controls and individuals with dysthymia (DYS) using behavioral responses and the contingent negative variation (CNV) and post-imperative negative variation (PINV) event-related potential (ERP) components. Warning stimuli forecasted the valence of subsequently presented adjectives ("+", positive; "=", neutral; "-", negative), and participants indicated whether each adjective would describe them over the next two weeks. Controls expected fewer negative, and individuals with DYS expected fewer positive, adjectives to apply to them. CNV amplitudes were enhanced in controls prior to positive versus other adjectives. Response times and PINV amplitudes were greater following neutral compared to other adjectives, and PINV was larger overall in dysthymics compared to controls. In sum, healthy controls and individuals with DYS exhibit different behavioral and neurophysiological biases in anticipation for future affective events. These results are discussed in the context of cognitive theories of depression.