Understanding emotion and emotional scarring in recurrent depression.
BACKGROUND
A single-item assessment of sad mood after remission from MDD is predictive of relapse, yet the mechanisms that play a role in depressive relapse remain poorly understood.


METHODS
In 283 patients, remitted from recurrent depression (DSM-IV-TR criteria; HAM-D17 score ≤ 10), we examined emotional scarring, that is, whether the number of previous depressive episodes was associated with higher levels of sad mood as assessed with a 1-item Visual Analogue Mood Scale (VAMS). We then fitted a cross-sectional multivariate regression model to predict sad mood levels, including the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale Version-A, cognitive reactivity (Leiden Index of Depression Sensitivity), Ruminative Response Scale, and Everyday Problem Checklist.


RESULTS
Patients with greater numbers of prior episodes experienced higher levels of sad mood after remission. In multivariate regression, intensity of daily stress and dysfunctional beliefs were associated with the VAMS (Adj. R(2)=.091) although not over and above depressive symptomatology (Adj. R(2)=.114). Cognitive reactivity was not associated with sadness.


CONCLUSIONS
Our finding that patients with more previous MDEs reported higher levels of sad mood while remitted could be indicative of emotional scarring. Dysfunctional beliefs and intensity of daily stress were associated with sad mood but not over and above residual symptoms. Thus, illness related characteristics especially are associated with sad mood after remission. More negative affect after remission could result in lower stress tolerance or more stress intensity could result in negative affect. Future studies should examine premorbid sadness in a longitudinal cohort, and should study the exact pathway from stress, affect, and cognition to relapse.
Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Gerard D
GD
van Rijsbergen
Vanderbilt University, Department of Psychology, Nashville, TN, USA.
Steven D
SD
Hollon
Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Hermien J
HJ
Elgersma
Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Gemma D
GD
Kok
Research Department, Arkin Mental Health Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Clinical Psychology, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Jack
J
Dekker
Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Aart H
AH
Schene
Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; Department of Clinical Health Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: C.L.H.Bockting@uu.nl.
Claudi L H
CL
Bockting
D000339:Affect; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction