11 research outputs found
Investigating the relationship between age of onset of depressive disorder and cognitive function
Sensitivity of Computerized Neuropsychological Screening in Depressed University Students
Neuropsychological characteristics as predictors of SSRI treatment response in depressed subjects
Right external globus pallidus changes are associated with altered causal awareness in youth with depression
Sexual Disorders Caused by Antidepressants: Considerations in the Context of Brain Hemisphere Functions
Cognitive mechanisms of treatment in depression
Cognitive abnormalities are a core feature of depression, and biases toward negatively toned emotional information are common, but are they a cause or a consequence of depressive symptoms? Here, we propose a âcognitive neuropsychological' model of depression, suggesting that negative information processing biases have a central causal role in the development of symptoms of depression, and that treatments exert their beneficial effects by abolishing these biases. We review the evidence pertaining to this model: briefly with respect to currently depressed patients, and in more detail with respect to individuals at risk for depression and the effects of antidepressant treatments. As well as being present in currently depressed individuals, negative biases are detectable in those vulnerable for depression due to neuroticism, genetic risk, or previous depressive illness. Recent evidence provides strong support for the notion that both antidepressant drugs and psychological therapies modify negative biases, providing a common mechanism for understanding treatments for depression. Intriguingly, it may even be possible to predict which patients will benefit most from which treatments on the basis of neural responses to negative stimuli. However, further research is required to ascertain whether negative processing biases will be useful in predicting, detecting, and treating depression, and hence in preventing a chronic, relapsing course of illness