Browsing by Subject "Depression"

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Can relational aggression and victimization help to explain the emergence of the sex difference in depression during adolescence?
(2012-08) Mathieson, Lindsay Catherine
The current study investigated the contributions of relational aggression and victimization to the sex difference in adolescent depressive symptoms. In addition, pubertal development and both rumination and co-rumination were examined as potential contributing factors. A total of 499 sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students and their teachers participated in the current study. Relational aggression and victimization were assessed by teacher-reports, and all other constructs were measured by self-reports. Surprisingly, no sex differences in depressive symptoms were found. Relational aggression was associated with depressive symptoms, but only when rumination about victimization experiences was high. Relational victimization was associated with depressive symptoms, and this association was partially mediated by rumination about victimization experiences. Neither pubertal status nor timing interacted with relational aggression or victimization to predict depressive symptoms. Therefore, rumination about victimization experiences appears to play an important role in the associations between relational aggression and depressive symptoms and between relational victimization and depressive symptoms. The practical implications of these findings are discussed and recommendations are offered for future research.
Cognitive and Emotional Sequelae of Exposure to Maternal Depression: Memory Functioning as a Neurocognitive Correlate of Internalizing Symptomatology
(2016-07) Ng, Rowena
Children exposed to maternal depression are at greater risk for depressive disorders later in life. Researchers have suggested that these youth experience marked stress from the care provided by parents afflicted with mental illness; in turn, chronic exposure to the toxic environment alters neural substrates involved in emotion and stress regulation, such as the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. However, current literature on neurobehavioral functioning of these at-risk youth relative to healthy peers is sparse and conflicting. Furthermore, it is unclear whether these neurocognitive indices, such as memory functioning, are predictive of internalizing symptomatology in these youth. Accordingly, this study examines the relationships between chronic exposure to maternal depression, severity of mother’s recent symptomatology, and child’s earlier internalizing symptomatology with later memory and psychological functioning (internalizing and externalizing behaviors). A total of 100 children and their parents were assessed when the child was 18 months old and followed up at 5 and 9 years of age. Of these youth, 50 child participants had mothers who had major depression at 18 months (i.e., depressed caregivers, DC), and 50 were those with nondepressed, healthy caregivers (NC). Mothers with depression were coded into three groups: chronic depression, recurrent depression, and non-recurrent depression. Children’s caregiver completed the Child Behavioral Checklist (CBCL) when the child was 18 months, 5 years and 9 years to determine overall internalizing and externalizing symptomatology observed. Child participants also completed the self-report version of the Child Depression Inventory, California Verbal Learning Inventory, and subtests from the Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning battery to assess their depressive symptomatology, verbal memory skills, and visual memory functioning respectively. Multiple hierarchical regressions were used to examine associations between chronic maternal depression, recent maternal depression severity, and child’s earlier internalizing symptomatology with later memory and emotional functioning at 9 years. Linear mixed effects model and analysis of covariance were applied to examine the growth pattern for internalizing symptomatology based on the CBCL. Broadly, results indicate that more chronic exposure to maternal depression, but not mothers’ recent symptomatology, is associated with lower verbal memory performance and greater internalizing and externalizing symptoms in the offspring. Internalizing symptomatology of children at age 5 years was not predictive of later memory functioning at 9 years, but was associated with increased internalizing and externalizing symptoms later at 9 years. Importantly, memory functioning, a neurobehavioral index of hippocampal functioning, was not predictive of concurrent psychological functioning (i.e., both externalizing and internalizing symptoms). Finally, both DC and NC youth showed similar non-linear, developmental patterns in their internalizing symptomatology from 18 months to 5 and 9 years; however, DC youth showed elevated symptoms relative to NC peers at baseline, a disparity that persisted by 9 years of age. These findings broadly support the postulation that chronic exposure to maternal depression may impact later hippocampal functioning, as indicated by lower verbal memory performance in offspring. However, findings also indicate that memory performance is not a strong predictor of concurrent psychological functioning, despite that this factor behaviorally indexes the functional status of the hippocampus, a neural substrate involved in stress regulation. Findings highlight importance of engaging depressed mothers in interventions for self and parent-child relationship earlier to reduce the persistent and negative effects of maternal depression on their offsprings’ development.
Depression
(2009-08-19) Johns, Brian
A tri-fold leaflet patient education tool for depression awareness.
Depression and Exercise: A New Option
(2011-08-03) Willenbring, Benjamin
Depression in Chronic Illness
(2012-07-26) Abebe, Yoftahe
Depression in your primary care doctors office: What are we doing to help you?
(2012-07-26) Lally, P.J.
The effects of job-related strains and stressors on mental health symptoms in National Guard veterans returning from Iraq
(2013-12) Schult, Tamara Marie Knudson
Objectives: Civilian reintegration is the process of military personnel transitioning back into personal and organizational roles following deployment. Our newest generation of veterans is faced with the task of reintegrating into potentially disrupted family, social, and occupational roles. Civilian reintegration may be particularly challenging for National Guard and Reserve (NGR) component service members. A key feature of the reintegration process in this population is the transition away from and back to civilian employment. Issues related to employment, including job concerns, job change, job stress and job support, may be important risk factors in the development of post-deployment mental health symptoms. The aim of this dissertation research was to examine, in a cohort of NG military veterans returning to civilian work after deployment to Iraq, these job-related issues and their role in the development of post-deployment mental health symptoms. Methods: We utilized prospective, longitudinal data from the Readiness and Resilience in National Guard Soldiers (RINGS) study, a study of risk and protective factors associated with post-deployment functioning. Pre-deployment data was collected in a cohort of 522 National Guard soldiers from a single brigade one month prior to deployment to Iraq (Time 1). Troops were deployed from March 2006 to July 2007. Post-deployment data was collected by mailed self-report questionnaires 2-3 months after brigade return (Time 2), and again approximately one and two years later (Times 3 and 4). A total of 424 veterans (81%) completed Time 2 questionnaires, 343 veterans (66%) completed Time 3 questionnaires, and 296 veterans (57%) completed Time 4 questionnaires. A smaller occupational cohort completed two interviews following completion of the Time 2 and Time 3 mailed questionnaires; a total of 355 completed an interview after Time 2 that gathered information on pre-deployment work history and current occupational status. Of those, 297 (84%) completed a second interview on occupational functioning after completing the mailed questionnaire at Time 3, and 208 (59%) completed the final mailed questionnaire at Time 4. Both dissertation papers estimated models with the same dependent variables, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as assessed with the PTSD Checklist - Military Version (PCL-M), and depression, as assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Linear regression models were employed to examine the effects of job concerns, job stress, and job support on post-deployment symptoms of PTSD and depression. A "differences-in-differences" model was used to determine whether a post-deployment civilian job change affects post-deployment symptoms of PTSD and depression.Results: We found significant correlations and significance in multivariate models controlling for demographics and combat exposure between job concerns and symptoms of both depression and PTSD; this was particularly true when job concerns were assessed prior to deployment. Job change had no significant effect on symptoms of either PTSD or depression, in contrast to our hypotheses. Finally, results indicated that perceived job stress and poor coworker support contribute to symptoms of depression in NG veterans over two years after returning from Iraq. Job stress may also contribute to an increase in symptoms of PTSD in some NG veterans.Conclusions: NGR veterans face unique challenges post-deployment as their military service is relatively part-time and they retain commitments to civilian jobs despite involvement in protracted or multiple deployments. We've identified the pre-deployment time period as a potential time to address latent civilian reintegration issues related to employment uniquely experienced by NG service members, namely job concerns regarding leaving and returning to civilian employment. In addition, we've shown that employment-related strains and stressors are associated with the development of post-deployment mental health symptoms; job stress and poor coworker support contribute to symptoms of depression in NG veterans over two years after returning from Iraq. In addition, job stress may also contribute to an increase in symptoms of PTSD in some NG veterans not already experiencing symptoms in the early post-deployment time period. Overall, this research provides insights that have important implications for research and practice in this special population of veterans.
Exploring the Relationships Between Supports and Depression Among Elderly Caregivers Raising Children Orphaned by AIDS in Rural Namibia
(2015-05) Kalomo, Eveline
Using the ecological systems theory, the present study examined the levels of depression in elderly caregivers of AIDS orphaned children in relations to those caregivers' financial stability, social support, informational support, and personal characteristics. Cross-sectional data were collected through face-to face interviews using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) of depression and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Measures for financial stability and informational supports were specifically developed for this study. Multiple regression analysis found elevated levels of depressive symptoms, with all caregivers in this study scoring above the threshold criteria for depression (≥16 points). The mean score of CES-D for the entire sample was 48. Findings also revealed a significant negative association between financial stability and depression. In addition, results showed a negative association between caring for an HIV-infected child and depression after controlling for caregiver age and caring for an HIV-infected child. Findings suggest the need for greater economic security and mental health interventions for elderly caregivers.
An fMRI study of emotional face processing in adolescent major depression
(2013-02) Jappe, Leah Marie
OBJECTIVE: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a serious, often chronic illness associated with significant impairment and suicide. MDD often begins during adolescence when brain areas that regulate emotion processing are still maturing. To expand upon our limited understanding of the neurobiological underpinnings of MDD early on in development, this study examined function within fronto-limbic neural circuits in response to an emotional faces task among depressed adolescents and healthy controls (HC) using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). METHOD: 34 adolescents with MDD (12 medicated, 22 unmedicated) and 16 healthy age and gender matched controls completed an emotional faces task where BOLD response was examined when viewing happy and fearful faces (presented in a block design) during fMRI. Scanning was completed using a 3.0 Tesla scanner. Data preprocessing and analysis was carried out using FEAT in FSL. Whole brain group level analyses were conducted using a mixed-effects model (FLAME) with cluster-wise significant testing (min Z=2.32; cluster significance = p<0.05, corrected). RESULTS: In response to viewing fearful versus happy faces, MDD showed reduced activation in areas of the right thalamus, right insula, and right hippocampus compared to HC. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that emotion processing in adolescent MDD is associated with abnormalities in subcortical and paralimbic brain regions within the broader fronto-limbic neural network. It is possible that these findings reflect deficits in depressed adolescents' ability to elicit cognitive control from higher cortical regions and to accurately respond to and process the emotional significance of fearful stimuli.
Interplay among Neural, Autonomic, and Neuroendocrine Systems in Rumination
(2022-07) Thai, Michelle
Rumination is a type of perseverative negative cognition that is associated with greater risk for depression and a worse prognosis. Current treatments for depression do not always adequately address symptoms of rumination. Novel, biologically-based treatments need to be developed. To develop such treatments, a thorough understanding of the mechanisms underlying rumination using multilevel approaches is necessary since processes like rumination implicate different neural and physiological systems which may constrain one another or have additive effects. This study took a multiple units of analysis approach to examine 1) neural connectivity and activation in the frontolimbic circuit and Default Mode Network (DMN), 2) heart rate variability (HRV), and 3) basal cortisol levels in the context of awakening in the context of a novel treatment for rumination incorporating mindful breathing training (MBT) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). This study explored 1) how rumination is related to these three systems and 2) how improvement in rumination relates to changes in these three systems. Overall, we find evidence that mindful breathing and tDCS can reduce rumination and depression as well as change these neurophysiological systems. Although these findings were not always clearly related to improvement in clinical symptoms, we find some evidence that tDCS and mindful breathing can increase HRV, decrease DMN and frontolimbic activation during a rumination induction task, increase frontolimbic RSFC, and increase positive mind wandering, which was generally associated with clinical improvement, generally more so or the tDCS group relative to sham. These results provide preliminary evidence that web-based mindfulness practices may have potential in reducing rumination and changing relevant neurophysiological systems.
Interplay Between Frontolimbic Resting State Connectivity And Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Functioning In Adolescents With And Without Depression
(2019-03) Thai, Michelle
Depression is associated with abnormalities in HPA-axis functioning and neural circuitry that underlie the stress response. Although positive associations have been found between cortisol levels and amygdala metabolism, activation, and volume, the associations between cortisol and resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) has not been examined. RSFC captures intrinsic connections between brain regions that may set the stage for the rallying of the HPA system. The association between frontolimbic RSFC in particular and HPA axis functioning is critical since stress system functioning involves activating to and recovering from threat, processes mediated by limbic and prefrontal activity respectively. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between cortisol and frontolimbic RSFC in healthy controls and adolescents with depression. Overall, healthy controls tended to show positive correlations between frontolimbic connectivity and cortisol levels in the context of the TSST whereas patients with depression showed an inverse relationship. Positive association between neural and HPA stress systems in healthy controls may suggest coordinated upregulation and downregulation of these two stress systems in response to stress. In contrast, in patients with depression, excessive recruitment of the mPFC by the amygdala may interfere with HPA system recruitment efficiency and successful rallying of HPA axis in response to social stress. These findings provide evidence that the intrinsic quality of this frontolimbic channel is related to HPA axis functioning, and patients with MDD show different patterns of associations compared to HC, which may interfere with adaptive stress functioning.
The interrelationship between personality traits and major depressive disorder during adolescence and early adulthood.
(2012-07) DiRago, Ana Clara
Background: Research literature has documented a relationship between personality traits and depression. However, no prospective studies have explored the influence of depression on personality development during adolescence and young adulthood. Objective: The purpose of this dissertation is to examine how depression affects personality development, and conversely, how personality traits confer risk for depression using the context of normative developmental change in adolescence and early adulthood as a frame of reference. Method: Participants included twins from the 11-year-old and 17-year-old cohorts of the Minnesota Twin-Family Study (MTFS). In order to assess the bidirectional influence between depression and personality, groups were created based on age of depression onset and course. Personality was assessed using scales from the MPQ, a personality instrument designed to assess personality characteristics in normal populations. The impact of the onset of depression on each personality variable was examined using linear mixed models (LMM) in SPSS. Results: In the first study, Negative Emotionality (NEM) in mid-adolescence acted as a vulnerability factor, and was associated with the onset of depression. Greater levels of Stress Reaction and Alienation were associated with an earlier onset persisting course; later onset of depression was associated with an increase in these traits. In mid-adolescence never depressed individuals scored higher than all groups in Well-Being. The onset of depression corresponded to a decrease in WB, while remission was associated with an increase in WB. In the second study, elevated NEM predicted the development of new cases of MDD in late adolescence and young adulthood. In those with adolescent onset depression, low Positive Emotionality (PEM) was associated with persisting course. Late onset and earlier persisting depression were associated with PEM decreasing from age 17 to 24. Low Constraint (CON) in adolescence was associated with a persisting course. In the third study, greater levels of NEM were associated with the onset of depression, suggesting NEM indexes underlying vulnerability. Earlier onset persisting depression slowed down the normative age-related decrease in NEM. Recurring depression was associated with lower levels of PEM. Higher PEM was associated with remission. CON had no effect on the onset and course of depression. Conclusion: NEM predicted the subsequent onset of MDD, was moderately influenced by clinical state, and influenced the course of depression. Findings for CON were weak and inconsistent. PEM did not act as vulnerability. However, lower levels of PEM were associated with persisting depression, while higher levels were associated with remission. To conclude, the association between MDD and personality varies with the course of MDD, and indicates both that personality is relevant to prognosis and that the course of MDD may alter personality.
Investigating the Effects of Antidepressants on Intestinal Bacteria
(2024-04-16) Lebakken, Sophia; Basting, Christopher M; Bailey, Melisa; Schroeder, Ty; Broedlow, Courtney A; Guerrero, Candace; Hemmila, Charlotte; Klatt, Nichole R
Introduction: The gut-brain axis (GBA) involves bidirectional communication between the gastrointestinal tract and brain, which contains many species of bacteria that play an important role in this communication. Major depressive disorder is often treated with antidepressant medications (ADMs) that pass through the gastrointestinal tract; however, the possible adverse effects of ADMs on the gut microbiome are not well characterized. Methods: This project investigates the impact of three selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, sertraline, fluoxetine, citalopram; one norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor, bupropion; and one tetracyclic antidepressant, mirtazapine, on the growth of eight species of gut bacteria, Bacteroides fragilis, Bifidobacterium longum, Bacteroides uniformis, Collinsella aerofaciens, Prevotella copri, Escherichia coli, Akkermansia muciniphila, and Lactobacillus plantarum. Bacteria were treated with various concentrations of each ADM to determine potential impact on growth. We calculated the concentration of drug needed to inhibit growth by 50% (IC50) using spectrophotometry. Results Several ADMs inhibited gut bacterial growth. At 50% bacterial growth inhibition, the most prominent was sertraline (28.742 μM), followed by bupropion (43.976 μM), then fluoxetine (76.449 μM). Citalopram (244.738 μM) and mirtazapine (294.316 μM) exhibited far less inhibition. Discussion These findings suggest ADMs have antibiotic effects that disturb the microbiome resulting in potential consequences for microbiota-GBA interactions. Building on these results, future experimentation will measure uptake and metabolism of ADMs by exposing bacteria to each drug longitudinally. Metabolites will be characterized using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Conclusion Given the profound impact of the gut microbiome on the gut-brain axis, these data provide novel insights into potential mechanisms by which ADMs could have unintended consequences on the gut that may perpetuate, instead of treat, mood disorders thus the microbiome should be further investigated in relation to ADMs.
Maternal Mental health and substance use:An examination of their role in pregnancy health behaviors and birth outcomes.
(2010-12) Gyllstrom, Marilyn Elizabeth
Objective: To characterize maternal mental health from a surveillance perspective and to specifically focus on maternal mental health and its potential relationship with prenatal substance use by: describing the co-occurrence of maternal mood and prenatal substance use; exploring the independent and interactive associations of maternal mood and prenatal substance use with infant health outcomes; and examining the relationship between maternal mood, stressful life events and prenatal tobacco cessation and maternal mood, stressful life events, postpartum depression and postpartum tobacco relapse. A qualitative study of methamphetamine use during pregnancy was designed to describe the experiences of pregnant women who had used methamphetamine immediately prior to or during pregnancy, with a specific focus on their mental health history. Methods: Surveillance data from the Minnesota Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), an on-going written/telephone survey of women who recently delivered live births in Minnesota linked to birth certificate data, comprised the dataset used to examine substance use, maternal mental health and infant health outcomes, as well as the tobacco cessation/relapse analyses. It is considered representative of Minnesota's recent mothers and infants. The Maternal Methamphetamine Study evolved from a community-based, participatory research model. Primary data collection and analysis focused on a small sample of women located in urban and rural settings in Minnesota. Qualitative methods were used to describe a population of women in out-patient therapy for methamphetamine use through county-based treatment programs. Data collection tools were designed in collaboration with researchers from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Children's Hospitals and Clinics and Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC). Qualitative data were obtained through in-person or telephone interviews and quantitative data through self-administered, written questionnaires. The University of Minnesota Institutional Review Board (IRB) reviewed both studies. The PRAMS questionnaire has been previously reviewed and approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and MDH IRBs. The secondary analyses of PRAMS data qualified for IRB exemption, as it uses existing data and does not contain personal identifiers. The methamphetamine project was approved by the University of Minnesota IRB. Conclusions: Low maternal mood co-occurred with substance use during pregnancy, which has profound implications for the health of women and their infants. Low maternal mood during pregnancy and tobacco use were interactively associated with a two-fold higher risk of low birthweight births. Women who reported low mood during pregnancy and who abstained from alcohol use during the third trimester of pregnancy were twice as likely to have a preterm delivery compared to women who reported higher mood levels. Low mood levels and stress were associated with decreased likelihood of tobacco cessation during pregnancy. Women with a history of methamphetamine addiction reported personal and familial histories of psychological problems. In addition, methamphetamine was described as a remedy for low energy, low self-esteem, depression and anxiety. Women stated they could accomplish more while on methamphetamine and it helped them cope with the demands of daily life. Thus, mental health problems and substance use co-occurred, which may have potential adverse consequences for pregnant women. More study of this complex relationship, and the resulting effects on women and their children, is important for long-term maternal and child health. Limitations: The two data sources define depressive symptoms differently, with different data collection methods. Thus, comparability between the study populations is difficult. This further reflects the lack of a gold standard measure for prenatal depression and depressive symptoms and the difficulty of measuring such symptoms during pregnancy. The question related to maternal mood during pregnancy from PRAMS is not considered a standard screening question and requires caution when interpreting results. Additionally, the women participating in the methamphetamine study are a select group of women who were identified through drug treatment programs. Public Health Implications: This proposal suggests that mental health may be important over the course of a pregnancy and during the postpartum. The innovative nature of this project relates to its exploration of maternal mental health and substance use concurrently, and their potential joint contributions to adverse maternal and infant health outcomes. In addition, it is one of the first studies to describe pregnant women in recovery from methamphetamine addiction. The results from these manuscripts provide information for local, state and federal public health agencies for program development and research allocation, and could influence their confidence in surveillance data designed to track maternal mental health.
Medication options to help with depression
(2012-04-10) Anderson, Christopher
Mindfulness-based Yoga intervention for women with elevated levels of depressive symptoms
(2014-12) Schuver, Katie Jo
One of the most common and debilitating health conditions in the United States and worldwide is major depression. Preliminary evidence indicates that Hatha Yoga may be an effective intervention for the management and treatment of depressive symptoms. Although compelling, these results are preliminary given the many substantial methodological limitations. Additional research is needed that addresses these limitations. The current study was a prospective, randomized, controlled intervention pilot study examining the efficacy of a 12-week mindfulness-based yoga intervention relative to a walking health education comparison condition among sedentary women (n=40) with elevated levels of depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms and other wellness outcomes were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and one-month follow-up. Both groups reported decreases in depressive symptoms from baseline to post-intervention, f (1,33)=34.83, p<.001, and from baseline to one-month follow-up, f (1,33)=37.01, p<.001. After controlling for baseline, there were no significant between group differences on depression scores at post-intervention and one-month follow-up assessments. The mindfulness-based yoga condition reported significantly lower levels of rumination than the walking health education comparison condition, after controlling for baseline levels of rumination, at post-intervention, (f (1,31)=6.23, p<0.01). Similar improvements for both groups from baseline to post-intervention were observed for increased moderate intensity physical activity, perceived stress, mindfulness, quality of life, and sleep disturbance; however, there were no differences between groups. Results indicate that yoga may be effective for reducing rumination; however, its effect on depressive symptoms is less clear. Future studies, with larger samples are needed to address the effect of yoga on depression.
Modeling Regional Variation of Cortical Spreading Depression: A Computational Study
(2019-05) Tuttle, Austin
Cortical Spreading Depression(CSD) is a pathological phenomenon in the central nervous system in which normal cellular function is disrupted by a prolonged depolarization due to massive ionic fluxes. This spreads at a rate of millimeters per minute and is connected to with several medical conditions: migraine aura, stroke, traumatic brain injury, etc. In this thesis we present a multi-phasic continuum electrodiffusion model of spreading depression. The main result of this work is the efficient numerical simulation of 2D and 3D versions of this model. We make use of these simulations by focusing on the introduction of NMDA receptors and their effects on previous findings. From there, we investigate spatial variance of CSD in two ways. First, the natural occurrence of spiral wave patterns in a homogeneous domain. Second, we introduce spatial dependence of parameters to investigate how the varied structure of the hippocampus can impact CSD.
Modeling the Depressed Mind: An Interdisciplinary Exploration of Learned Helplessness, Anhedonia, and Sensorimotor Bayesian Decision-Making Processes in Depression
(2023-11) Song, Xin
Depression, a multifaceted mental health condition, presents a diverse array of behavioral and computational irregularities. In this dissertation, I employed an interdisciplinary approach, examining and bridging traditional animal and human models of depression in conjunction with computational and Bayesian approaches. These explorations span the domains of reward processing, anhedonia, and sensorimotor decision-making within the context of depression. In Chapter 1, I revisited the well-established learned helplessness model and investigated its potential associations with anhedonia—a defining feature of depression. I devised an aversive tone-based task inspired by the original learned helplessness paradigm, manipulating the perception of control. Our findings contest traditional beliefs, suggesting that helplessness is the inherent state and control is acquired. Moreover, our results suggest that it is not perceived control but stress that stands out as the primary driver in eliciting state anhedonia. In Chapter 2, our exploration of anhedonia continues, this time focusing on its behavioral manifestation. Using a Signal Detection Theory task, we probed the potential influences of learned helplessness on reward-driven behaviors. Although perceived control showed no impact over reward responsiveness, a curious disconnect emerged: while self-reported pleasure scales registered changes in state anhedonia and anxiety, these nuances failed to echo in the behavioral markers of reward responsiveness. In Chapter 3, I pivot from reward processing to the domain of sensory processing and decision-making in depression. Using a visuomotor coin-catching task, rooted in the Bayesian Decision Theory framework, we examined how depression might modulate the use of prior and likelihood information when making perceptual decisions under uncertainty. Our findings suggest that depression does not uniformly alter sensory integration, hinting that those with depression may still adeptly navigate sensorimotor tasks. Taken together, these studies present an in-depth exploration of the depressed mind and shed light on the intricacies of anhedonia, sensorimotor decision-making, and broader depression models and mechanisms.
Moderating processes in the link between early caregiving and adult individual and romantic functioning: the distinctive contributions of early adult romantic relationships.
(2011-08) Salvatore, Jessica Elizabeth
This study tested a model of early adulthood romantic relationships as moderators of the effects of early caregiving experiences in predicting life satisfaction, romantic relationship quality, and depression/anxiety in later adulthood. Participants (n = 83) were a subsample from a 35-year longitudinal study of risk and adaptation. The quality of early caregiving was measured using a composite of infant attachment at 12 and 18 months, maternal supportive presence and hostility at 24 and 42 months, and maternal verbal and emotional responsivity at 30 months were included. The quality of early and later adulthood romantic relationships was assessed from in-depth interviews conducted with participants at ages 23 and 32. Life satisfaction was measured at age 32. Depression/anxiety symptoms were measured at ages 23, 26, and 32. Results indicated that early adulthood romantic relationships moderate early caregiving to predict trajectories of depression/anxiety symptoms between ages 23-32, but not the single measures of life satisfaction and romantic quality at age 32. The depression/anxiety findings are consistent with the organizational-developmental principle that individual functioning is a product of one's developmental history and current circumstances, and offer a possible interpretation for the null interaction effects obtained in the life satisfaction and romantic quality analyses. Results underscore the importance of taking a developmental perspective on turning point phenomena.
Poverty measurement and depression symptomology in the context of welfare reform.
(2011-01) Frazer, Monica Schmitz
The present study addresses current debates in the literature by examining and comparing methods used to define and measure poverty, and examining the relationship between poverty and depression symptomology. The data come from a USDA-funded, NC-233 multi-state, longitudinal project entitled "Rural Low-Income Families: Tracking Their Well-Being and Functioning in the Context of Welfare Reform," commonly called "Rural Families Speak." The first wave of data includes 413 rural mothers who earned below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guideline and had at least one child under the age of 13. Data was gathered over 3 waves from 23 rural counties in 13 states, between May, 1999 and October, 2003. The study was timed to examine the effects of welfare reform rules that limit benefit receipt to 60 months in a lifetime. This study explores two significant issues related to poverty and depression symptomology. How to best measure poverty as it relates to depression symptomology is addressed in Phase 1, through a comparative analysis of six different poverty measures. Phase 2 utilizes two poverty measures that show the strongest relationship with depression symptomology to address the question of whether poverty causes depression, or depression causes poverty, through a comparison of social causation and social selection theories. Depression symptomology is determined through use of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Phase 1 analysis reveals food security as the poverty measure with the strongest relationship to depression symptomology. Annual income calculated as a percentage of the Federal Poverty Guideline shows the second strongest relationship. Phase 2 analyses are completed in four data runs. Two data runs that include a series of regression analyses use food security and depression symptomology, interchanging each as the independent and dependent variables. The data runs are then repeated using the poverty guideline measure. Phase 2 results reveal limited support for social causation theory, with a few models showing marginally significant effects when food security in an earlier wave predicts depression symptomology in a later wave. Implications for using food security as a measure of poverty, policy implications, directions for future research, and application of findings are discussed.

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