Positive mood on negative self-statements: paradoxical intervention in geriatric patients with major depressive disorder. (3rd June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lanza, Claudia; Müller, Christine; Riepe, Matthias W.
• Is Part Of: Aging & mental health. Volume 22:Number 6(2018)
• Page Start: 748
• Page End: 754
• Publication Date: 2018-06-03
• Subjects: Emotion induction -- Velten technique -- geriatric patients -- major depressive disorder -- paradoxical intervention; Older people -- Mental health -- Periodicals; Geriatric psychiatry -- Periodicals; Older people -- Psychology -- Periodicals; Aging -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Aged -- psychology -- periodicals; Mental Health -- periodicals; Mental Health Services -- periodicals; Aging -- psychology -- periodicals; Aged, 80 and over -- psychology -- periodicals; 618.97689
• DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2017.1306834
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1360-7863

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Objectives: Mood regulation is said to be age-specific. Negative self-statements (NST) are used to induce negative mood. However, little is known about NST in older persons and geriatric patients with major depressive disorder. Method: We investigated healthy young (YC) and older (OC) control subjects and older patients with major depressive disorder (OP). Subjects were exposed to NST subsequent to baseline assessment comprising psychological and psychometric tests. Preferences for emotionally salient stimuli were measured with an eye-tracking task. Results: Mood in YC shifted towards depressive mood or remained stable on NST. In OC and more so in OP some subjects responded paradoxically subsequent to NST with mood being more positive than at baseline. Extent and direction of mood change correlated with prevailing mood at baseline and total score in the Hamilton Depression Anxiety Scale. At baseline, YC had a preference for 'happy' stimuli. Subsequent to NST view preference shifted towards 'sad.' In contrast, OC had no preference at baseline but shifted towards 'happy' on NST. Conclusions: Mood change on NST is age-specific. In geriatric patients with depressive disorder, however, NST may induce a shift towards more positive mood and thus may be used in future as a therapeutic intervention.