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Cognitive Therapy and Research

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Open Access 11-05-2022 | Mood Disorders | Original Article

The Effects of Attentional Deployment on Reinterpretation in Depressed Adolescents: Evidence from an Eye-Tracking Study

Authors: Charlotte Elisabeth Piechaczek, Pia-Theresa Schröder, Lisa Feldmann, Gerd Schulte-Körne, Ellen Greimel

Published in: Cognitive Therapy and Research | Issue 5/2022

Abstract

Background

Individuals with major depression have difficulties employing cognitive reappraisal. Most prior studies have not accounted for attentional deployment, which seems to be involved in this process.

Methods

We investigated the cognitive reappraisal tactic reinterpretation in 20 depressed and 28 healthy youths and assessed regulation success in response to negative pictures via self-report. To investigate attentional deployment during reinterpretation, we applied eye-tracking and manipulated gaze focus by instructing participants to direct their attention towards/away from emotional picture aspects.

Results

Depressed adolescents, compared with healthy youths, had a diminished regulation success when their gaze was focused on emotional aspects. Both depressed and healthy adolescents spent less time fixating on emotional facets of negative pictures when using reinterpretation as compared with simply attending to the pictures.

Conclusions

Results from this study suggest that adolescents with major depression have emotion regulation deficits when being confronted with negative emotional facets, while showing intact overt attentional processes. The findings provide important starting points for future research investigating the role of other factors which might impact on emotion regulation processes in this patient group, such as cognitive control deficits.

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Title: The Effects of Attentional Deployment on Reinterpretation in Depressed Adolescents: Evidence from an Eye-Tracking Study
Authors: Charlotte Elisabeth Piechaczek
Pia-Theresa Schröder
Lisa Feldmann
Gerd Schulte-Körne
Ellen Greimel
Publication date: 11-05-2022
Publisher: Springer US
Keywords: Mood Disorders
Affective Disorder
Published in: Cognitive Therapy and Research / Issue 5/2022
Print ISSN: 0147-5916
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2819
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-022-10303-2

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The Effects of Attentional Deployment on Reinterpretation in Depressed Adolescents: Evidence from an Eye-Tracking Study

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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