Impairments in episodic future thinking for positive events and anticipatory pleasure in major depression

JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS

卷:260

Article

Hallford, D. J.¹  Barry, T. J.²  Austin, D. W.¹  Raes, F.³  Takano, K.⁴  Klein, B.⁵ 

[1] Deakin Univ, Sch Psychol, 1 Gheringhap St, Melbourne, Vic 3220, Australia

[2] Univ Hong Kong, Dept Psychol, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong, Peoples R China

[3] Katholieke Univ Leuven, Fac Psychol & Educ Sci, Tiensestr 102,Box 3712, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium

[4] Ludwig Maximilian Univ Munich, Dept Psychol, Div Clin Psychol & Psychotherapy, Geschwister Scholl Pl 1, D-80539 Munich, Germany

[5] Federat Univ, Sch Hlth & Life Sci, Univ Dr, Mt Helen, Vic 3350, Australia

关键词: Depression;    Episodic future thinking;    Anticipatory pleasure;    Anhedonia;    Episodic specificity;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.jad.2019.09.039

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Background: Characteristic of the cardinal symptom of anhedonia, people with clinical depression report lower levels of anticipatory pleasure. However, the psychological mechanisms underlying these deficits are poorly understood. This is the first study to assess whether, and to what extent, phenomenological characteristics of episodic future thinking for positive future events are associated with anticipatory pleasure among depressed individuals. Methods: Individuals with a Major Depressive Episode (MDE; N = 117) and without (N = 47) completed ratings scales for depressive symptoms and trait anticipatory and consummatory pleasure. They then provided descriptions of personally-relevant positive future events and rated them for phenomenological characteristics and state anticipatory pleasure. Results: Between-groups analysis showed that those with MDE reported lower trait anticipatory and consummatory pleasure. They also simulated future events with less specificity, less detail/vividness, less use of mental imagery, less use of first-person perspective, less plausibility/perceived likelihood of occurring, and reported less associated state anticipatory pleasure. In regression analyses in the depressed group, lower scores for detail/vividness, mental imagery, and personal significance all uniquely predicted lower state anticipatory Pleasure. Limitations: Cognitive functioning was not assessed, which may help clarify deficits that underpin these findings. History of previous depressive episodes in the comparison group were not assessed, which may mean the observed between-group effects are underestimated. Conclusions: This study provides further evidence of deficits in episodic future thinking and anticipatory pleasure in depressed individuals. It also establishes links between particular characteristics of episodic future thinking and state anticipatory pleasure, and indicates cognitive targets that may be amenable to intervention in order to reduce anhedonia.

【 授权许可】

Free