Explicit emotional memory biases in mood disorders: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology

Background:

• Major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD) are linked to distinct emotional memory (EM) biases.
• Understanding these EM phenotypes is crucial for diagnosing and treating mood disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review literature on non-autobiographical explicit EM biases in individuals with MDD and BD compared to healthy controls.
• To clarify the EM characteristics associated with MDD and BD.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature search across multiple databases (Cochrane, Embase, Medline, PsycInfo, Web of Science, etc.).
• Inclusion of 14 studies examining explicit EM biases in MDD and BD samples versus controls.
• Analysis of studies conducted during acute illness and euthymic phases.

Main Results:

• Limited evidence supports an explicit EM bias in MDD during acute depression.
• One study indicated an EM deficit for negative stimuli in MDD during euthymia.
• BD studies showed mixed results: one positive EM bias, one no bias during acute episodes, and one EM deficit for negative stimuli during euthymia.

Conclusions:

• Current evidence does not strongly support an explicit EM bias in acute MDD.
• The review highlights the need to explore moderating factors influencing EM performance in MDD and BD across illness stages.