Where the depressed mind wanders: Self-generated thought patterns as assessed 
trough experience sampling as a state marker of depression

Hoffmann, Ferdinand; Banzhaf, Christian; Kanske, Philipp; Bermpohl, Felix; Singer, Tania

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2016.03.005

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Where the depressed mind wanders: Self-generated thought patterns as assessed trough experience sampling as a state marker of depression

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Hoffmann, Ferdinand
Department Social Neuroscience, MPI for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Max Planck Society;

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Kanske, Philipp
Department Social Neuroscience, MPI for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Max Planck Society;

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Singer, Tania
Department Social Neuroscience, MPI for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Max Planck Society;

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Citation

Hoffmann, F., Banzhaf, C., Kanske, P., Bermpohl, F., & Singer, T. (2016). Where the depressed mind wanders: Self-generated thought patterns as assessed trough experience sampling as a state marker of depression. Journal of Affective Disorders, 198, 127-134. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2016.03.005.

Cite as: https://hdl.handle.net/11858/00-001M-0000-0029-D67A-3

Abstract

Background

Self-generated thoughts (SGTs), such as during mind-wandering, occupy much of our waking life. Individuals with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) are less in the “here and now” and prone to rumination. Few studies have looked at SGTs in depression using experience sampling methods and no study has so far investigated the specific contents of depressive SGTs and how they vary from one time point to another.
Methods

MDD patients (n=25) and matched healthy controls (n=26) performed an established mind wandering task, involving non-demanding number discriminations. Intermittent probe questions ask for participants’ current SGTs, that is, how off-task the thoughts are, how positive or negative, self- or other-related, and past- or future-oriented.
Results

Multi-level modeling revealed that MDD patients engaged in more mind wandering than healthy controls. Their SGTs were predominantly negative and less positive, more self-related and past-oriented. Strongest predictor of depressive SGT was the decreased positive valence of thoughts. MDD patients’ future and past-oriented thoughts were particularly more negative compared to healthy controls. Within MDD patients, the less positively valenced thoughts they had and the less variable these thoughts were, the more depressive symptoms they showed.
Limitation

No other measures of rumination and worry were used.
Conclusion

MDD patients show a very specific SGT pattern, possibly reflecting ruminative and anxious thoughts. This SGT pattern in depression might represent a useful state marker and even constitute an etiological factor of this debilitating disease, considering the importance of current SGT on and individual's cognitive processes and affective states.