Emotion-Network Density in Major Depressive Disorder. (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pe, Madeline Lee; Kircanski, Katharina; Thompson, Renee J.; Bringmann, Laura F.; Tuerlinckx, Francis; Mestdagh, Merijn; Mata, Jutta; Jaeggi, Susanne M.; Buschkuehl, Martin; Jonides, John; Kuppens, Peter; Gotlib, Ian H.
• Is Part Of: Clinical psychological science. Volume 3:Number 2(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 292
• Page End: 300
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: depression -- emotion -- affective disorders; Clinical psychology -- Periodicals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1177/2167702614540645
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2167-7026

Abstract

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent disorder involving disturbances in mood. There is still much to understand regarding precisely how emotions are disrupted in individuals with MDD. In this study, we used a network approach to examine the emotional disturbances underlying MDD. We hypothesized that compared with healthy control individuals, individuals diagnosed with MDD would be characterized by a denser emotion network, thereby indicating that their emotion system is more resistant to change. Indeed, results from a 7-day experience sampling study revealed that individuals with MDD had a denser overall emotion network than did healthy control individuals. Moreover, this difference was driven primarily by a denser negative, but not positive, network in MDD participants. These findings suggest that the disruption in emotions that characterizes depressed individuals stems from a negative emotion system that is resistant to change.