Depression is not related to deficits in emotional reasoning skills

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Kube ◽  
Thilo Friehs ◽  
Julia Glombiewski ◽  
Mario Gollwitzer
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Performance Test ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Actual Performance ◽  
Self Evaluation ◽  
Emotional Reasoning ◽  
Reasoning Skills ◽  
Improved Performance

Background: Several lines of research have examined whether people with depressive symptoms have deficits in social-cognitive abilities, such as emotional reasoning skills. While many patients report having such deficits, it is less clear whether depressive symptoms are related to actual objective performance deficits.Methods: Following recent methodological recommendations, we performed a so-called “mini meta-analysis” of 11 studies conducted in our lab to examine the relationship between depressive symptoms as assessed with the Beck’s Depression Inventory II and emotional reasoning skills as assessed with a well-established performance test (i.e., TEMINT). Data were analysed from 1,503 participants with varying levels of depression – from healthy people without depressive symptoms to clinical samples with a diagnosed major depressive disorder and high symptom burden.Results: Using a random effects approach, we found a small but significant correlation between depressive symptoms and TEMINT performance (mean r = .065), indicating that depressive symptoms were associated with higher emotional reasoning skills.Conclusions: Depression is unrelated to deficits in emotional reasoning according to the present findings. If anything, depressive symptoms are associated with improved performance in the TEMINT. These findings point to a discrepancy between depressed people’s self-evaluation of their abilities (as shown in previous research) and their actual performance. Accordingly, therapists may focus on modifying patients’ negative views on themselves, rather than on improving their skills.

scholarly journals Overgeneral and Specific Autobiographical Memory Predict the Course of Depression: An Updated Meta-Analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
David John Hallford ◽  
Danielle Rusanov ◽  
Joseph Yeow ◽  
Tom Joseph Barry
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Cognitive Process ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Moderating Variables ◽  
Analytic Review ◽  
Course Of Depression

Impairments in retrieving event-level, specific autobiographical memories, termed overgeneral memory (OGM) are recognised as a feature of clinical depression. A previous meta-analytic review (Sumner, Griffith, & Mineka, 2010) assessing how OGM predicts the course of subsequent depressive symptoms showed small, but robust effects for correlations and regression analyses when baseline depressive symptoms were controlled for. We aimed to update this study and examine whether their findings replicate given the decade of research that has been published since. A systematic literature review using the same eligibility criteria as the previous meta-analysis lead to a doubling of eligible studies (31 vs. 15). The results provided more precise estimates of effect sizes, and largely support the finding that OGM predicts the course of depressive symptoms. The effects were generally small, but significantly larger among clinical samples, compared to studies with non-clinical samples. Higher age was associated with stronger effects, while longer follow-up with associated with weaker effects. The findings on other moderating variables that were analysed were mixed. Continued research into this modifiable cognitive process may help to provide an avenue to better understand and treat highly prevalent and impactful depressive disorders.

scholarly journals How important is cognitive ability when adapting to changes? A meta-analysis of the performance adaptation literature

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukasz Stasielowicz
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Goal Orientation ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Task Complexity ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Objective Assessment ◽  
Actual Performance ◽  
Objective Performance ◽  
Performance Adaptation ◽  
The Relationship

Performance adaptation is required in many areas (e.g., dealing with emergencies or new software in the work and educational context). Therefore, predicting successful reactions to changes is important. Motivated by heterogeneous findings, the present meta-analysis examines to what extent individual differences in cognitive abilities are relevant to performance adaptation. A three-level meta-analysis based on 133 correlations (N = 37,963) was conducted in order to estimate the mean strength of the relationship. Furthermore, several moderator analyses were carried out (e.g., task complexity, subjective vs objective assessment of performance adaptation) to explain the variability of the effect sizes. As expected, cognitive ability was positively related to performance adaptation (r = .21). However, the relationship was stronger when objective performance adaptation scores (r = .25) rather than subjective ratings were used (r = .11). Furthermore, cognitive ability seems to be particularly relevant for highly dynamic tasks (r = .31). Overall, cognitive ability can be a useful predictor of actual performance adaptation, which has implications for the selection context (e.g., selection of students or employees with high adaptability). Furthermore, cognitive ability seems to be more relevant than other personality-based predictors of performance adaptation that have been examined meta-analytically (Big Five and goal orientation).

scholarly journals Overgeneral and specific autobiographical memory predict the course of depression: an updated meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
D. J. Hallford ◽  
D. Rusanov ◽  
J. J. E. Yeow ◽  
T. J. Barry
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Cognitive Process ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Moderating Variables ◽  
Analytic Review ◽  
Course Of Depression

Abstract Impairments in retrieving event-level, specific autobiographical memories, termed overgeneral memory (OGM), are recognised as a feature of clinical depression. A previous meta-analytic review assessing how OGM predicts the course of subsequent depressive symptoms showed small effects for correlations and regression analyses when baseline depressive symptoms were controlled for. We aimed to update this study and examine whether their findings replicate given the decade of research that has been published since. A systematic literature review using the same eligibility criteria as the previous meta-analysis led to a doubling of eligible studies (32 v. 15). The results provided more precise estimates of effect sizes, and largely support the finding that OGM predicts the course of depressive symptoms. The effects were generally small, but significantly larger among clinical samples, compared to studies with non-clinical samples. There was some evidence that higher age was associated with stronger effects, and longer follow-up was associated with weaker effects. The findings on other moderating variables that were analysed were mixed. Continued research into this modifiable cognitive process may help to provide an avenue to better understand and treat highly prevalent and impactful depressive disorders.

The Validity of Specific Cognitive Abilities for the Prediction of Training Success in Germany

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 123-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wiebke Goertz ◽  
Ute R. Hülsheger ◽  
Günter W. Maier
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Personnel Selection ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Mental Ability ◽  
Occupational Category ◽  
General Mental Ability ◽  
Training Success ◽  
Specific Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Better Than

General mental ability (GMA) has long been considered one of the best predictors of training success and considerably better than specific cognitive abilities (SCAs). Recently, however, researchers have provided evidence that SCAs may be of similar importance for training success, a finding supporting personnel selection based on job-related requirements. The present meta-analysis therefore seeks to assess validities of SCAs for training success in various occupations in a sample of German primary studies. Our meta-analysis (k = 72) revealed operational validities between ρ = .18 and ρ = .26 for different SCAs. Furthermore, results varied by occupational category, supporting a job-specific benefit of SCAs.

scholarly journals Effects of n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Supplementation in the Prevention and Treatment of Depressive Disorders—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1070
Author(s):  
Maike Wolters ◽  
Annkathrin von der Haar ◽  
Ann-Kristin Baalmann ◽  
Maike Wellbrock ◽  
Thomas L. Heise ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Treatment Duration ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Pufa Supplementation ◽  
Depressive Symptomology ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Significant Difference

N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been suggested to affect depressive disorders. This review aims to determine the effect of n-3 PUFAs on depressive symptoms in people with or without diagnosed depression. Medline, PsycINFO, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the association between n-3 PUFAs and depressive symptoms or disorders as outcomes. A random-effects meta-analysis of standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was performed. Twenty-five studies (7682 participants) were included. Our meta-analysis (20 studies) indicated that n-3 PUFA supplementation lowered depressive symptomology as compared with placebo: SMD = −0.34, 95% CI: −0.55, −0.12, I2 = 86%, n = 5836, but a possible publication bias cannot be ruled out. Subgroup analyses indicated no statistically significant difference by treatment duration of <12 vs. ≥12 weeks, presence of comorbidity, or severity of depressive symptoms. Nevertheless, beneficial effects were seen in the subgroups of studies with longer treatment duration and with no depression and mild to moderate depression. Subgroup analysis by eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) dosage revealed differences in favor of the lower EPA dosage. Sensitivity analysis including studies with low risk of bias seems to confirm the overall result. Supplementation of n-3 PUFA appears to have a modest beneficial effect on depressive symptomology, although the quality of evidence is still insufficient.

scholarly journals Systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of depressive symptoms, dysthymia and major depressive disorders among homeless people

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. e040061
Author(s):  
Getinet Ayano ◽  
Asmare Belete ◽  
Bereket Duko ◽  
Light Tsegay ◽  
Berihun Assefa Dachew
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Random Effect ◽  
Homeless People ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Prevalence Rates ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Major Depressive Disorders

ObjectivesTo assess the global prevalence estimates of depressive symptoms, dysthymia and major depressive disorders (MDDs) among homeless people.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.Data sourcesDatabases including PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were systematically searched up to February 2020 to identify relevant studies that have reported data on the prevalence of depressive symptoms, dysthymia and MDDs among homeless people.Eligibility criteriaOriginal epidemiological studies written in English that addressed the prevalence of depressive problems among homeless people.Data extraction and synthesisA random-effect meta-analysis was performed to pool the prevalence estimated from individual studies. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were employed to compare the prevalence across the groups as well as to identify the source of heterogeneities. The Joanna Briggs Institute’s quality assessment checklist was used to measure the study quality. Cochran’s Q and the I2 test were used to assess heterogeneity between the studies.ResultsForty publications, including 17 215 participants, were included in the final analysis. This meta-analysis demonstrated considerably higher prevalence rates of depressive symptoms 46.72% (95% CI 37.77% to 55.90%), dysthymia 8.25% (95% CI 4.79% to 11.86%), as well as MDDs 26.24% (95% CI 21.02% to 32.22%) among homeless people. Our subgroup analysis showed that the prevalence of depressive symptoms was high among younger homeless people (<25 years of age), whereas the prevalence of MDD was high among older homeless people (>50 years of age) when compared with adults (25–50 years).ConclusionThis review showed that nearly half, one-fourth and one-tenth of homeless people are suffering from depressive symptoms, dysthymia and MDDs, respectively, which are notably higher than the reported prevalence rates in the general population. The findings suggest the need for appropriate mental health prevention and treatment strategies for this population group.

Combined healthy lifestyle and depressive symptoms: a meta-analysis of observational studies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaowen Wang ◽  
Ahmed Arafa ◽  
Keyang Liu ◽  
Ehab S Eshak ◽  
Yonghua Hu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Observational Studies ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Meta Analysis

scholarly journals Long-term outcomes of psychological treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Maxi Weber ◽  
Sarah Schumacher ◽  
Wiebke Hannig ◽  
Jürgen Barth ◽  
Annett Lotzin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Psychological Treatment ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Long Term Outcomes ◽  
Psychological Treatments

Abstract Several types of psychological treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are considered well established and effective, but evidence of their long-term efficacy is limited. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the long-term outcomes across psychological treatments for PTSD. MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, PTSDpubs, PsycINFO, PSYNDEX, and related articles were searched for randomized controlled trials with at least 12 months of follow-up. Twenty-two studies (N = 2638) met inclusion criteria, and 43 comparisons of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) were available at follow-up. Active treatments for PTSD yielded large effect sizes from pretest to follow-up and a small controlled effect size compared with non-directive control groups at follow-up. Trauma-focused treatment (TFT) and non-TFT showed large improvements from pretest to follow-up, and effect sizes did not significantly differ from each other. Active treatments for comorbid depressive symptoms revealed small to medium effect sizes at follow-up, and improved PTSD and depressive symptoms remained stable from treatment end to follow-up. Military personnel, low proportion of female patients, and self-rated PTSD measures were associated with decreased effect sizes for PTSD at follow-up. The findings suggest that CBT for PTSD is efficacious in the long term. Future studies are needed to determine the lasting efficacy of other psychological treatments and to confirm benefits beyond 12-month follow-up.

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