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Induced optimism as mental rehearsal to decrease depressive predictive certainty.

Regina Miranda1, Mariann Weierich1, Valerie Khait2

  • 1Hunter College, City University of New York, 695 Park Ave., Room 611HN, New York, NY, 10065, United States; The Graduate Center, City University of New York, 365 5th Ave., New York, NY, 10016, United States.

Behaviour Research and Therapy
|December 6, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Practicing optimistic predictions reduced hopelessness in individuals with moderate-to-severe depression. This mental rehearsal technique improved optimistic forecasting but did not alter overall depressed mood.

Keywords:
DepressionDepressive predictive certaintyHopelessnessInduced optimism

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Depression is characterized by hopelessness-related cognitions.
  • Cognitive biases, such as pessimistic predictions, can maintain depressive states.
  • Interventions targeting cognitive patterns may alleviate depressive symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if practicing optimistic future-event predictions can alter hopelessness-related cognitions in individuals with varying levels of depressive symptoms.
  • To determine the impact of induced optimism on depressive predictive certainty and the efficiency of optimistic predictions.
  • To examine if this practice affects overall depressed mood.

Main Methods:

  • 170 individuals with low, mild, or moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms were recruited.
  • Participants were randomly assigned to either an optimism practice condition or a control condition.
  • The optimism condition involved practicing optimistic future-event predictions, while the control involved identifying adjectives in phrases.

Main Results:

  • Individuals in the induced optimism condition increased optimistic predictions compared to controls.
  • Only those with moderate-to-severe depression who practiced optimism showed reduced depressive predictive certainty.
  • Participants in the optimism group demonstrated improved efficiency in making optimistic predictions, indicated by faster response times, with no change in depressed mood.

Conclusions:

  • Practicing optimistic future-event predictions can reduce hopelessness-related cognitions, particularly in individuals with moderate-to-severe depression.
  • Mental rehearsal of optimistic predictions may be a viable strategy for modifying cognitive patterns associated with depression.
  • While cognitive certainty improved, the practice did not directly impact overall depressed mood in the short term.