Depression and cognitive vulnerability / (original) (raw)

Jeg holder et menneskes hånd, ser inn i et menneskes øyne, men jeg er på den andre siden der mennesket er en tåke av ensomhet og angst. Å, om jeg var en sten som kunne romme denne tomhetens tyngde, om jeg var en stjerne som kunne drikke denne tomhetens smerte, men jeg er et menneske kastet ut i grenselandet, og stillheten hører jeg bruse, stillheten hører jeg rope fra dypere verdner enn denne." Gunvor Hofmo TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. GENERAL AIMS OF THE STUDY 2. INTRODUCTION 2.1 Background 2.2 Cognitive vulnerability to depression 2.2.1 Vulnerability and the diathesis-stress relationship 2.2.2 How to study cognitive vulnerability? 2.3 Negative self-schemata and negative knowledge structures 2.3.1 The processing of emotionally valenced information in currently depressed individuals 2.3.2 Studies supporting depressogenetic cognitive structures in previously depressed individuals 2.4 Self-regulation, coping strategies and meta-cognition 2.5 A depressive episode as a vulnerability factor for depression 3. SPECIFIC AIMS OF THE STUDY 4. METHOD 4.1 Participants 4.2 Procedures 4.2.1 The first day of testing 4.2.2 The second day of testing 4.3 Methods 4.3.1 Measurements 4.3.2 Apparatuses and materials 5. SUMMARY OF PAPERS 6. GENERAL DISCUSSION 6.1 Summary of results A Cognitive Battle Model Decreased approach motivation Automatic and effortful processing The main findings in each group of participants 6.1.1 Dysphoric symptoms and dysfunctional attitudes as vulnerability factors to depression 6.1.2 The relationship between dysfunctional attitudes and the cognitive processing of positive and negative information 6.1.3 The escalation process of dysphoric mood to a clinical depression; the consequence of an imbalance in positive and negative information processing? 6.2 Clinical implications and further research 6.3 Limitations of the study and methodological challenges 7. CONCLUSIONS REFERENCES PAPERS 1-III ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First of all, I wish to thank the participants who took part in the study and the general physicians in Tromsø who contributed by recruiting participants to the project. Also, I want to thank my research assistants Renate Berg, Kjersti Fredheim and Tanja Berg for being enthusiastic, responsible and accurate. I am very grateful to my supervisor, Arne Holte for almost thirteen years of collaboration. He has inspired me, supported me and expressed confidence in me when I have struggled with my theoretical ambitions. Also, Arne introduced me to Rue L. Cromwell and his colleagues at the University of Kansas, which became the starting point of my research career in 1995. I would like to express my gratitude to Rue, and especially to J. Jeffrey Crowson who, very generously, introduced me to the experimental field of clinical psychology and equipped me with the methods to carry out this study. Also, I am very grateful to my supervisor Tim Brennen for being so patient in teaching me statistics, to be short and precise in professional writing, and to know the difference between "is" and "are". The study has lasted for almost ten years and during this time several people have contributed to the process of finalizing this thesis. I wish to thank Maria Lewicka and Tore C. Stiles for their helpful suggestions when planning the study, and Ingunn Skre for the training in diagnostic interviewing. During the many years of data collection, and the long lasting process of submitting papers to journals, Ellen Hartmann, Monica Martinussen, Martin Eisemann, and Knut Waterloo have been of great support to me. I am also indebted to colleagues and friends at the Department of Psychology for their support and encouragement to complete this work.