Self-blame in major depression: a randomised pilot trial comparing fMRI neurofeedback with self-guided psychological strategies

Background Overgeneralised self-blame and worthlessness are key symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) and have previously been associated with self-blame-selective changes in connectivity between right superior anterior temporal lobe (rSATL) and subgenual frontal cortices. Another study showed that remitted MDD patients were able to modulate this neural signature using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) neurofeedback training, thereby increasing their self-esteem. The feasibility and potential of using this approach in symptomatic MDD were unknown. Method This single-blind pre-registered randomised controlled pilot trial probed a novel self-guided psychological intervention with and without additional rSATL-posterior subgenual cortex (BA25) fMRI neurofeedback, targeting self-blaming emotions in people with insufficiently recovered MDD and early treatment-resistance (n = 43, n = 35 completers). Participants completed three weekly self-guided sessions to rebalance self-blaming biases. Results As predicted, neurofeedback led to a training-induced reduction in rSATL-BA25 connectivity for self-blame v. other-blame. Both interventions were safe and resulted in a 46% reduction on the Beck Depression Inventory-II, our primary outcome, with no group differences. Secondary analyses, however, revealed that patients without DSM-5-defined anxious distress showed a superior response to neurofeedback compared with the psychological intervention, and the opposite pattern in anxious MDD. As predicted, symptom remission was associated with increases in self-esteem and this correlated with the frequency with which participants employed the psychological strategies in daily life. Conclusions These findings suggest that self-blame-rebalance neurofeedback may be superior over a solely psychological intervention in non-anxious MDD, although further confirmatory studies are needed. Simple self-guided strategies tackling self-blame were beneficial, but need to be compared against treatment-as-usual in further trials. https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN10526888

Problem Orientation and Psychological Distress Among Adolescents: Do Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies Mediate Their Relationship?

Adolescence is a critical period for the development of attitudes and skills crucial in determining vulnerability for psychological distress. The current study aimed to focus on the association of problem orientation and cognitive emotion regulation strategies with psychological distress and demonstrate the mediator roles of adaptive and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies in the association of problem orientation with psychological distress. Data were collected from 335 adolescents (167 female) aged 14-to-18 years (M= 14.7, SD= .95) via measures of problem orientation, cognitive emotion regulation, and psychological distress. The results revealed that maladaptive emotion regulation strategies (self-blame and other-blame) mediated the association of negative problem orientation with psychological distress. The findings emphasize the crucial roles of blaming-focused strategies in this relationship.

Subgenual activation and the finger of blame: individual differences and depression vulnerability

Background Subgenual cingulate cortex (SCC) responses to self-blaming emotion-evoking stimuli were previously found in individuals prone to self-blame with and without a history of major depressive disorder (MDD). This suggested SCC activation reflects self-blaming emotions such as guilt, which are central to models of MDD vulnerability. Method Here, we re-examined these hypotheses in an independent larger sample. A total of 109 medication-free participants (70 with remitted MDD and 39 healthy controls) underwent fMRI whilst judging self- and other-blaming emotion-evoking statements. They also completed validated questionnaires of proneness to self-blaming emotions including those related to internal (autonomy) and external (sociotropy) evaluation, which were subjected to factor analysis. Results An interaction between group (remitted MDD v. Control) and condition (self- v. other-blame) was observed in the right SCC (BA24). This was due to higher SCC signal for self-blame in remitted MDD and higher other-blame-selective activation in Control participants. Across the whole sample, extracted SCC activation cluster averages for self- v. other-blame were predicted by a regression model which included the reliable components derived from our factor analysis of measures of proneness to self-blaming emotions. Interestingly, this prediction was solely driven by autonomy/self-criticism, and adaptive guilt factors, with no effect of sociotropy/dependency. Conclusions Despite confirming the prediction of SCC activation in self-blame-prone individuals and those vulnerable to MDD, our results suggest that SCC activation reflects blame irrespective of where it is directed rather than selective for self. We speculate that self-critical individuals have more extended SCC representations for blame in the context of self-agency.

Structural Relationships Between Negative Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies and Symptoms of Internet Addiction: Mediating Role of Anxiety

Background: Internet addiction is one of the most paramount problems of societies. Therefore, the knowledge of its influencing factors is of special importance. Methods: The present study was correlational in terms of goals and descriptive in terms of the data gathering procedure. The statistical population consisted of 2,000 male students and included all fourth-grade students of state high schools of Tabriz City in 2017. The sample included 246 students, selected through random cluster sampling. For the collection of data, the Cognitive Emotion Regulation questionnaire (CERQ), Young’s Diagnostic questionnaire (YDQ), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were used. Then, the collected data were analyzed by structural equation modeling. Results: Negative cognitive emotion regulation strategies could explain internet addiction symptoms. Self-blame, other-blame, rumination, catastrophizing, and anxiety could explain internet addiction symptoms directly. The indirect effect of self-blame and rumination on internet addiction mediated by anxiety was positive and significant; however, the indirect effect of other-blame and catastrophizing on internet addiction mediated by anxiety was not significant. Conclusions: The findings have practical implications for clinical psychologists and can be used for diagnosis and therapy of internet addiction disorder.

Predicting Depression Based on Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies

Introduction: In recent years, many studies focused on emotion regulation in conceptualization, explanation, and treatment of mental disorders. Problematic patterns of emotional reactivity and regulation are prominent factors in various mental disorders, specially internalizing disorders. The present study aimed to identify the role of emotion regulation strategies in predicting depression. Method: This descriptive –correlational research was conducted on 650 students of Yazd University selected by cluster sampling. They completed the Beck depression inventory (BDI-II) and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies Questionnaire (CERQ.) Research data were analyzed in SPSS-22 by Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise regression. Results: A significant positive correlation was found between maladaptive emotion regulation strategies (self-blame, rumination, catastrophizing, other-blame) and depression. Adaptive emotion regulation strategies (acceptance, reorientation, plan-focus, perspective taking) were negatively correlated with depression. Results of Stepwise regression showed that self-blame, reorientation, catastrophizing, plan-focus, and other blame could explain 34% of depression variance significantly. Conclusion: According to the results, emotion regulation strategies can be a significant factor in predicting depression; so, strengthening the adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies should be considered in the development and modification of treatments for depression.

Interaction Between Coping Strategies Among Infertile Couples and Women’s Psychological Symptoms

Background Social problems and suffering from treatment process for infertile couples requires the couples use coping strategies for balancing the infertility crisis. According to the close interactions of the couples with each other, the objective of the study was assess of interrelationships between coping strategies of the infertile couples under assisted reproductive treatment and women’s psychological symptoms.Method This cross sectional research was done on 212 infertile couples undergoing assisted reproductive treatment. The using level of coping strategies, the stress, anxiety and depression levels were evaluated by using valid questionnaire. The relations between the coping strategies of the couples with each other, and also women’s stress, anxiety and depression levels were evaluated.Results The results showed the relationship between using the coping strategies by men, except understanding emotion, maintaining optimism strategies, and the coping strategies by women showed a significant relation. The results showed that the stress, anxiety and depression levels of women were positively related to the using of self-focused rumination and other blame strategies.Conclusion The couples’ coping strategies toward infertility are interacted and psychological symptoms in women’s are affected by their partners’ coping strategies and using of self-focused rumination and other blame strategies by men may effect on partners’ psychological health.

Evaluasi Psikometri Cognitive Emotion Regulation Quetionnaire: Versi Indonesia

Cognitive emotion regulation adalah konsep regulasi emosi yang berfokus pada proses evaluasidan modifikasi emosi dengan menggunakan strategi kognitif. Strategi yang digunakan individu dalam mengelola emosi memiliki hubungan dengan kecenderungannya mengalami kecemasan dan depresi. Penelitian sebelumnya berhasil mengembangkan alat ukur cognitive emotion regulation dalam beberapa versi, tetapi belum ada penelitian yang membuat alat ukur tersebut versi Indonesia. Penelitian ini bertujuan melakukan adaptasi alat ukur cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire dengan menggunakan mahasiswa sebagai partisipan. Alat ukur ini terdiri dari 36 item yang terbagi ke dalam 8 dimensi, yaitu self blame, other blame, acceptance, rumination, positive refocusing, refocus on planning, positive reappraisal, putting into persepctive, dan catastrophizing. Ada sebanyak 196 mahasiswa (Laki-laki= 18% dan Perempuan=82%) terlibat dalam penelitian ini. Teknik pengujian validitas dan reliabilitas menggunakan Rasch Model pada aplikasi winsteps. Hasilnya adalah seluruh item dinyatakan valid dengan rentang reliabilitas alpha cronbach 0,6 hingga 0,85. Oleh karena itu, alat ukur cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire versi Indonesia dinyatakan mampu mengukur regulasi emosi kognitif secara valid.

Emotions as Context: Do the Naturalistic Effects of Emotion Regulation Strategies Depend on the Regulated Emotion?

Introduction: Researchers have examined how several contexts impact the effectiveness of emotion regulation strategies. However, few have considered the emotion-to-be-regulated as a context of interest. Specific emotions are important contexts because they may require particular responses to internal and external stimuli for optimal regulation. Method: Ninety-two undergraduates completed 10 days of ecological momentary assessment, reporting their current mood, recent emotions, and emotion regulation strategies three times per day. Results: The frequency with which certain emotion regulation strategies were used (i.e., acceptance, positive refocusing, reappraisal, problem-solving, and other-blame) differed by the specific emotion experienced. Acceptance and positive refocusing were associated with better mood regardless of emotion, while substance use was associated with worse mood regardless of emotion. Reappraisal was associated with better mood in response to anger than anxiety or sadness, while emotional suppression and other-blame were associated with worse mood in response to anger. Discussion: These results suggest some emotion regulation strategies exhibit emotion-invariant effects while others depend on the emotion-to-be-regulated.