ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The perception of self-discrepancies between the actual self and the ideal self has been defined as a cognitive risk factor for depression (Higgins, 1987). In this view, self-discrepancy monitoring (SDM) refers to the voluntary re-orientation of attention towards detecting discrepancies between ideal and actual selves, even in a positive situation. AIMS: The goal of this study was to explore the impact of SDM on levels of mood in the face of positive stimuli. METHOD: Two clinical and two non-clinical samples were recruited from two different European countries (Italy and Romania). All participants were asked to focus on a past positive experience, and were then randomly allocated to one of two induction tasks. The experimental condition consisted of monitoring discrepancies between personal goals and the recalled positive experience, while the control condition consisted of observing what the participant was feeling. RESULTS: The findings show that, after recalling a positive memory, SDM leads to a significant decrease in mood over a short period independent of the severity of depressive symptoms. This effect is partially mediated by the concurrent change in levels of brooding. CONCLUSIONS: Self-discrepancy monitoring in response to positive stimuli tends to lower current mood independent of the initial level of depressive symptoms, and seems to be a global trigger of emotional distress that does not refer only to a depressed cognitive style.
Subject(s)
Affect , Attention , Cognitive Behavioral Therapy , Depressive Disorder/psychology , Depressive Disorder/therapy , Self Care/psychology , Self Concept , Achievement , Adult , Animals , Controlled Before-After Studies , Cricetinae , Depressive Disorder/diagnosis , Emotions , Female , Goals , Humans , Internal-External Control , Italy , Male , Mental Recall , Middle Aged , Motivation , Personal Satisfaction , Psychometrics , Romania , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Rumination is an abstract, persistent, and repetitive thinking style that can be adopted to control negative affect. Recent studies have suggested the role of rumination as direct or indirect cognitive predictor of craving experience in alcohol-related problems. AIMS: The goal of this study was to explore the effect of rumination induction on craving across the continuum of drinking behaviour. METHODS: Participants of three groups of alcohol-dependent drinkers (N=26), problem drinkers (N=26) and social drinkers (N=29) were randomly allocated to two thinking manipulation tasks: distraction versus rumination. Craving was measured before and after manipulation and after a resting phase. RESULTS: Findings showed that rumination had a significant effect on increasing craving in alcohol-dependent drinkers, relative to distraction, but not in problem and social drinkers. This effect was independent of baseline depression and rumination and was maintained across the resting phase. CONCLUSIONS: Rumination showed a direct causal impact on craving that is specific for a population of alcohol-dependent drinkers.
