Mood Intensity Research Articles

The impact of ruminative thought style on the maintenance of depressive mood

Introduction Ruminations are a cognitive style of “thought recycling”, which involves passively and repeatedly focusing on disorder and distress symptoms, or their causes, without attempting to alleviate them. They are a significant indicator of cognitive vulnerability, predicting the emergence, maintenance, and recurrence of depressive symptoms.ObjectivesTo estimate the impact of the ruminative thought style on the maintenance and escalation of depressive mood.Methods The research sample consisted of 60 students between the ages of 19 and 30 (M = 23), divided into two experimental groups with 30 participants each. The participants took part in a 5-minute experiment that involved recalling an autobiographically sad event, assessing their mood on the Scale for Self-Assessment of Emotions (EAS) before and after the induction, and then splitting into two groups of 30 participants for random ruminating or distraction. The Beck Depression Inventory-II, the Ruminative Response Scale, the Ruminative Thought Style Questionnaire, and the EAS were used as research instruments. The progressive group relaxation approach was used at the end of the experiment with all participants to promote relaxation and lessen the psychophysical tension brought on by the experimental induction (10 minutes total).ResultsThe experimental groups did not differ in mood intensity prior to the induction of sadness. Both experimental groups experienced significant impacts on depressed mood following the induction of sadness (F (1,58) =92.05, p<0.001): participants who ruminated demonstrated persistence in their negative mood, whereas participants who engaged in distractions demonstrated a decrease in their negative mood, even below the initial level (F (2,116) =12.69, p<0.001).Conclusions This result provides an additional experimental validation of the phenomenon of maintaining a depressive mood through ruminations. An essential psychotherapy goal should be the treatment (metacognitive therapy, rumination-focused CBT, mindfulness, cognitive bias correction, etc.) of such mechanisms, recognized as crucial for the maintenance of depression.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Younger and older adults’ memory of past feelings surrounding an election

ABSTRACT People often misremember their past feelings, especially when recalling their prior mood as opposed to their specific emotions in response to events. A previous study also found that the direction of memory errors varies based on feeling type; younger adults overestimated the intensity of prior moods but underestimated the intensity of prior event-specific emotions. This study aimed to replicate these patterns and test whether they vary with age. In doing so, we also tested whether an age-related positivity effect would emerge, such that older adults would be relatively more likely to overestimate past positive feelings and underestimate past negative feelings. Using a sample of American voters, who reported their feelings following the 2020 United States presidential election, we found that both younger and older adults subsequently overestimated the intensity of their past mood in the week following the election but were relatively accurate in recalling the intensity of their prior emotions about the election result. Unexpectedly, among election losers, we also observed an age-related negativity effect in recall for prior mood. When faced with negative real-world events, older adults may not show the same positivity biases that are observed in lab studies.

Eye-tracking Analysis: College Website Visual Impact on Emotional Responses Reflected on Subconscious Preferences

This study examined students’ behaviour on the college website and the content of information they were able to obtain. With the eye-tracking sensor, this study aims to investigate the university websites’ effectiveness, satisfaction, and efficiency and collect data regarding users' visual impacts. The research was carried out using mobile phone neuromarketing tools of eye-tracking, facial coding, and supplementary short memory post-survey. The study was focused on two web pages, the homepage, and the CARE page. The analysis results from both web pages were then compared and further discussed. The results suggest that participants mostly elicited sadness (29.55%), neutrality (33.19%), and puzzlement (13.60%) while browsing the homepage, regardless of the areas of interest (AOI). They also elicited slight disgust (4.33%), fear (3.51%), joy (5.21%), and surprise (29.55%). The heat map for the CARE page reveals that the top of the CARE page was a point of attraction for participants. The study found that participants' negative feelings were more intense than good ones concerning homepage scrolling. Also, their pleasant mood intensity increased moderately when they looked at regions with only photos in a subdued color scheme or where brighter colors were used to emphasize essential textual information such as upcoming events and student blogs. This reveals that the website's complexity further affects the cognitive load. Therefore, making it more accessible will be beneficial to students. According to the student's responses, change such as the page's design, color, and text could be implemented.

Mood Responses and Regulation Strategies Used During COVID-19 Among Boxers and Coaches.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented changes to daily life and in the first wave in the UK, it led to a societal shutdown including playing sport and concern was placed for the mental health of athletes. Identifying mood states experienced in lockdown and self-regulating strategies is useful for the development of interventions to help mood management. Whilst this can be done on a general level, examination of sport-specific effects and the experience of athletes and coaches can help develop interventions grounded in real world experiences. The present study investigated perceived differences in mood states of boxers before and during COVID-19 isolation in the first lockdown among boxers. Boxing is an individual and high-contact sport where training tends to form a key aspect of their identity. Boxers develop close relationships with their coach and boxing. Hence boxers were vulnerable to experiencing negative mood, and support via the coach was potentially unavailable. Participants were 58 experienced participants (44 boxers, male n = 33, female n = 11; 14 boxing coaches, male n = 11, female n = 3). Boxers completed the Brunel Mood Scale to assess mood before COVID-19 using a retrospective approach and during COVID-19 using a “right now” time frame. Boxers responded to open-ended questions to capture mood regulation strategies used. Coaches responded to open ended questions to capture how they helped regulate boxer’s mood. MANOVA results indicated a large significant increase in the intensity of unpleasant moods (anger, confusion, depression, fatigue, and tension) and reduction in vigor during COVID-19 (d = 0.93). Using Lane and Terry (2000) conceptual framework, results showed participants reporting depressed mood also reported an extremely negative mood profile as hypothesized. Qualitative data indicated that effective mood-regulation strategies used included maintaining close coach-athlete contact and helping create a sense of making progress in training. When seen collectively, findings illustrate that mood state responses to COVID-19 were severe. It is suggested that that active self-regulation and self-care should be a feature of training programmes to aid coaches and boxers in regulating mood when faced with severe situational changes.

Relationship Between Mood and Somatic Symptom at Initial Presentation of mTBI to a Concussion Clinic

To examine the relationship between self-reported mood symptoms and severity of presenting concussion symptoms in an adult sports and non-sports post-concussion population. Past studies have identified a relationship between pre-morbid and concurrent anxiety and depression and number, severity, and duration of postconcussion symptoms. Using our structured clinical documentation support toolkit for concussion patients, we analyzed previously collected discrete standardized data. Each patient with a confirmed mTBI diagnosis by the clinician, reported mood symptoms on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale and Center for Epidemiology Studies Depression (CES-D) scale. Rivermead Post-concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ) was self-reported for non-sports concussion patients and the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT) symptom checklist was self-reported for sports concussion patients. RPQ or SCAT scores were correlated with GAD-7 and CES-D scores at initial visit. Cohorts were stratified by gender and age decile. RPQ score was weakly correlated with GAD-7 scores and peaked at 0.71 for males in their 40s and 0.69 for females in their 50s. RPQ was weakly correlated with CES-D for males: corr = 0.65 for all age groups, and females around 0.50, peaking at 0.76 for females in their 50s. For SCAT and GAD-7, males had a stronger correlation than females (0.58-0.21) in their 20s, while females exhibited a stronger correlation for SCAT and CES-D than males (0.63-0.23) in their 20s. Correlations were found between symptom scores and mood scores. Strongest correlations were found for non-sports mTBI patients between RPQ scores and GAD-7 scores in males in their 40s and females in their 50s, and between RPQ scores and CES-D scores in females in their 50s. This analysis lends support to the relationship between mood symptoms and intensity of somatic concussion symptoms following injury and may encourage clinicians to discuss mental health treatment or resources when appropriate.

Positive or negative vibes: Does mood affect consumer response to controversial advertising?

ABSTRACT Mood management theory posits that people try to maintain intensity of good moods and diminish intensity of bad moods. This study uses mood management theory to examine the interplay between mood and controversial advertising in a social and political context. An online experiment was conducted that manipulated participants’ moods and then exposed them to either a controversial or non-controversial ad. Afterwards their attitudes and behaviors were measured. The results suggest people in positive moods have more positive attitudes toward non-controversial ads and less positive attitudes toward controversial ads. Conversely, people in negative moods have more favorable attitudes toward controversial ads and less favorable attitudes when evaluating non-controversial ads.

Mediatory effect of depression in the relations between cognitive reserve and cognitive abilities. Does a CR index matter?

BackgroundCognitive reserve (CR) explains the level of cognitive functioning in healthy aging individuals or those with brain dysfunctions. Various CR indexes include objective (e.g. education level), subjective (e.g. self-report methods of life activity), and their combinations. Data showing the impact of CR on cognitive performance are unclear due to the relationship between CR and depressive mood as well as due to the impact of depressed mood on cognitive functions. The current study was designed to determine the link between three different CR indicators and cognitive abilities of adult Poles. The analyses took into account intensity of depression, as a mediator for these links. Additionally, the study was designed to assess whether or not the contents of the self-reported part of the CR index were of significance for the relations.Participants and procedureThe study was carried out in two unrelated groups of adult Poles (Group I, n = 130; Group II, n = 90). Assess-ment of CR took into account three indexes (CR based on self-reported activity in life, CR additionally contain-ing information on formal education, and CR supplemented with information related to occupational activity). Cognitive capacity was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA), Vocabulary, as well as Digit Span Forward and Backwards. Intensity of depression was measured using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) II. The self-report part of the questionnaire used to measure CR in Group I contained items mainly about past life and in Group II consisted of more items about both past life and current activity.ResultsThe greater CR corresponds to higher scores in cognitive tasks and lower intensity of depressive mood. This is in line with previous research reporting that a higher level of the reserve may protect against mood disorders. Depression mediates the links between CR and the cognitive functions, reducing the positive impact of CR. These relations were visible in Group I, where CR based on self-reported activity in life comprised items about (mainly) past life.ConclusionsSelf-report techniques used in CR assessment may be inadequate as a tool for describing the reserve, due to the link between self-report and emotional state. However, a more detailed self-report component of the CR indicator about both past and current life may correspond to a weaker or insignificant relation between CR and depressive mood as well as between depression and cognitive capacities. Varied approaches to operationali-sation of CR result in discrepancies regarding the role of resources in the stabilisation and dynamics of cogni-tive status in ageing people and in clinical groups.

Emotional State in Relation to Physical Activity Among Older People

Old age is a stage in human life associated with alteration of physical, mental and social functioning. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between regular physical activity (PA) and purpose of life, intensity of depressive moods, sense of coherence (SoC) and the level of anxiety in older adults. Forty six individuals physically active (A) and 49 physically inactive (NA) without mental or physical disability were included in the study. The purpose of life was assessed by Purpose of Life Scale (PIL), intensity of depressive moods by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), SoC by Antonovsky’s questionnaire and level of anxiety by State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). An AN individuals had lover BDI-feelings level compared with A group (p < 0.05). The AN group also showed a significantly lower scores in anxiety-feature domain of the STAI (p < 0.05). Our results suggest that improved self-perceived quality of life is significantly associated to PA among older adults and regular PA may be effective for improving depression and anxiety symptoms in older adults. A better understanding of the relationship between the PA and depressive moods and level of anxiety is important to develop recommendations regarding modifications in life-style.

Subjective Cognitive Complaints in Distant Phase After Stroke – Preliminary Study

Introduction. Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is often reported by healthy individuals and by different clinical groups. Current data do not clearly show the relationship between SCD and cognitive functioning, but the predictors of SCD are: age, depression and sociodemographic factors. Inconclusive data also applies topeople suffering from stroke in the distal post-stroke phase. Correct identification of the causes of SCD will help to take adequate forms of psychological therapy (neuropsychological rehabilitation and/or psychotherapy).&#x0D; Methodology. The aims of research was to compare the intensity and structure of SCD as well as theirdeterminants in healthy persons and those after stroke. In our study 193 adults participated: 118 osób without brain pathology and 75 patients who suffered stroke 2–3 years earlier. DEX-S and ProCog as methods of evaluation of SCD and cognitive assessment techniques: the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA), WAIS-R subtests and intensity of depressive mood (Geriatric Depression Scale – 15) were used in the study.&#x0D; Results. Patients after stroke were characterized by more severe SCD than healthy people. People in both groups likewise (low) rated one’s own long-term memory, general cognitive and executive function. It has also been shown that people after stroke have significantly lower cognitive competencies compared to healthyindividuals, but similar (low) level of depressive mood. The later part of the analysis showed that some complaints may be determined by depressive mood, others are due to the interaction of cognitive deficits and depressive mood.&#x0D; Conclusion. Our results confirm the need for proper qualifications complaints in patients after stroke (in distant post-stroke phase).&#x0D; Keywords: subjective cognitive decline, stroke, cognitive functioning, depression

Not Only When Feeling Down: The Relationship Between Mood Intensity and Smoking Behavior

ABSTRACTBackground: There is substantial empirical evidence that negative mood triggers smoking behavior, and less support for the similar effect of positive mood. However, the relationship between the intensity of mood and smoking remains relatively under-researched. Objectives: The present study explored the association between mood intensity and smoking behavior. Methods: Seventy-three ad libitum smokers recorded their mood and concurrent number of smoked cigarettes three times daily for one week using electronic diary application. Real time assessment in natural environment enabled greater reliability, validity and generalizability of the collected data. Results: We analyzed results using within-subjects approach and obtained significant growth trend in smoking behavior that concurred with the increase of mood intensity—smokers tended to increase their consumption of cigarettes when they were feeling either happy or sad in comparison to the situation when they were in neutral mood. Importance: These findings raise implications regarding the role of mood intensity in initiating smoking behavior.

The feasibility and effectiveness of Catch It, an innovative CBT smartphone app.

BackgroundThe widespread use of smartphones makes effective therapies such as cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) potentially accessible to large numbers of people.AimsThis paper reports the usage data of the first trial of Catch It, a new CBT smartphone app.MethodUptake and usage rates, fidelity of user responses to CBT principles, and impact on reported negative and positive moods were assessed.ResultsA relatively modest proportion of people chose to download the app. Once used, the app tended to be used more than once, and 84% of the user-generated content was consistent with the basic concepts of CBT. There were statistically significant reductions in negative mood intensity and increases in positive mood intensity.ConclusionsSmartphone apps have potential beneficial effects in mental health through the application of basic CBT principles. More research with randomised controlled trial designs should be conducted.Declaration of interestNone.Copyright and usage© The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2016. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Non-Commercial, No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) licence.

Forgetting feelings: Opposite biases in reports of the intensity of past emotion and mood.

Memory for feelings is subject to fading and bias over time. In 2 studies, the authors examined whether the magnitude and direction of bias depend on the type of feeling being recalled: emotion or mood. A few days after the U.S. Presidential elections in 2008 and 2012, participants reported how they felt about the election outcome (emotion) and how they felt in general (mood). A month after the elections, participants recalled their feelings. The intensity of past emotion was recalled more accurately than the intensity of past mood. Participants underestimated the intensity of emotion but overestimated the intensity of mood. Participants' appraisals of the importance of the election, which diminished over time, contributed to underestimating the intensity of emotion. In contrast, participants' strong emotional response to the election contributed to overestimating the intensity of mood. These opposing biases have important implications for decision making and clinical assessment.

Homogenization of Classification Functions Measurement (HOCFUN): A Method for Measuring the Salience of Emotional Arousal in Thinking.

The problem of the measurement of emotion is a widely debated one. In this article we propose an instrument, the Homogenization of Classification Functions Measure (HOCFUN), designed for assessing the influence of emotional arousal on a rating task consisting of the evaluation of a sequence of images. The instrument defines an indicator (κ) that measures the degree of homogenization of the ratings given over 2 rating scales (pleasant-unpleasant and relevant-irrelevant). Such a degree of homogenization is interpreted as the effect of emotional arousal on thinking and therefore lends itself to be used as a marker of emotional arousal. A preliminary study of validation was implemented. The association of the κ indicator with 3 additional indicators was analyzed. Consistent with the hypotheses, the κ indicator proved to be associated, even if weakly and nonlinearly, with a marker of the homogenization of classification functions derived from a separate rating task and with 2 indirect indicators of emotional activation: the speed of performance on the HOCFUN task and an indicator of mood intensity. Taken as a whole, such results provide initial evidence supporting the HOCFUN construct validity.

The Psychobiological Problems of Continued Nicotine Dependency in E-Cigarette 'Vapers'. Commentary: "Electronic Cigarettes".

The Psychobiological Problems of Continued Nicotine Dependency in E-Cigarette 'Vapers'. Commentary: "Electronic Cigarettes".

The effect of negative mood intensity on autobiographical recall: Evidence for the underlying role of affect in mood congruence effect

The effect of negative mood intensity on autobiographical recall: Evidence for the underlying role of affect in mood congruence effect

Effects of 72 hours total sleep deprivation on male astronauts' executive functions and emotion

BackgroundTo provide evidence for better understanding stressful situations, the present study was designed to investigate the specific physiological and psychological responses under stressful situations like social isolation and sleep deprivation. MethodsTwelve healthy male adults (age: 18–30years old) who participated in our study were randomized to the 72hours of social isolation and 72hours of sleep deprivation experimental conditions. Performances (event-related potentials and physiological activities) on the Go/Nogo task which reflected the executive functions were accessed at baseline (pretest) and after 72-hour of the experiment (posttest). ResultsThe results showed that compared to the social isolation, the participants got strengthened heart rate (HR), weakened HR variability and smaller amplitude of the P300 under the sleep deprivation condition; moreover, they had lower positive emotion and higher negative mood in the posttest. ConclusionsThe present study indicated that sleep deprivation specifically influenced the intensity of task-relevant information processing, mood and vagal tone.

Self-compassion as an emotion regulation strategy in major depressive disorder

Cognitive reappraisal and acceptance are two presumably adaptive emotion regulation strategies in depression. More recently, self-compassion has been discussed as another potentially effective strategy for coping with depression. In the present study, we compared the effectiveness of self-compassion with a waiting condition, reappraisal, and acceptance in a clinically depressed sample, and tested the hypothesis that the intensity of depressed mood would moderate the differential efficacy of these strategies. In an experimental design, we induced depressed mood at four points in time in 48 participants meeting criteria for major depressive disorder. After each mood induction, participants were instructed to wait, reappraise the situation, accept their negative emotions, or employ self-compassion to regulate their depressed mood. Self-ratings of depressed mood were assessed before and after each mood induction and regulation phase. Results showed that the reduction of depressed mood was significantly greater in the self-compassion condition than in the waiting condition. No significant differences were observed between the self-compassion and the reappraisal condition, and between the self-compassion and the acceptance condition in patients' mood ratings. However, the intensity of self-rated depressed mood at baseline was found to moderate the comparative effectiveness of self-compassion and reappraisal with a trend of self-compassion being more effective than reappraisal in high depressed mood at baseline. These findings support the use of self-compassion as another adaptive emotion regulation strategy for patients with major depressive disorder, especially for those suffering from high levels of depressed mood.

Quantification of the intensity of reactants acute phase response, pain perception and mood of open and laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Introduction Each operational trauma causes a response of the body expressed through measuring parameters of reactants acute phase response, and the intensity of the perception of gender and mood expressed trough the need for analgesics. The aim of the work Through comparative analysis of parameters of acute phase reactant response and analysis of the quality and quantity of pain and mood, the dominance of operative trauma is indicated at these two methods of operation (elective Cholecystectomy ). Material and method through vandominised prospective study, two groups with 60 patients were formed. The basic criterion for the formation of the tested group was surgical approach - open or laparoscopic Cholecystectomy . The first and the second day after postoperative morning were measured creatinine, protein and albumins, and comparison with the preoperative values was done. The need for analgesics and their effects, monitoring of patients' mood, and quantification of pain intensity were defined by descriptive, numerical and visual analogue scales. Analysis of the statistics data is done by the statistical evaluation of models with descriptive statistics analysis, computer support and the use of SPSS version 10 for Windows. Results We had statistically significant lower value of reactive protein present in the laparoscopic surgery. Among both groups we had decreased value of albumin, but with high statistical significance at the open Cholecystectomy . Maximum values of CRP were changed in 48 hours after surgery. Forty-eight hours after surgery we have a mild increase of albuminaemia, but in the case of open Cholecystectomy exists statistically-high significantly lower value than preoperational. We got statistically-high significant difference of the average subjective assessment of pain measured by VAS scale in both groups.Measuring of psychological distress among patients with pain is given by the estimation of mood done with MOOD scale. There is a statistically significant difference between the groups in favor of those treated with method of operative Cholecystectomy . Conclusion Body response to trauma is proportional to the intensity of the trauma. Change of reactants acute phase response had lower intensity in the case of laparoscopic Cholecystectomy , and value in the scale and the mood and the perception of pain are in correlation with the type of surgery. Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy represents gold standard in the treatment of chronic Calculose Cholecystitis .

Mood instability and functional recovery in bipolar disorders

The aim of this study was to identify psychopathological factors associated with long-term functional outcome in euthymic bipolar disorder patients and to test new measures of mood instability and symptoms intensity. Fifty-five patients with more than 12 months of follow-up were included. In addition to traditional clinical variables, the time spent ill was documented using a modified life-charting technique based on NIHM life-charting method. New measures, Mood Instability Factor, and Mood Intensity Factor were defined and assessed. Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) was used to assess disability. The follow-up period was 3.00 ± 1.51 years. Weeks with subsyndromal depressive symptoms (β = 0.133, t = 2.556, P = 0.014), weeks with mild manic symptoms (β = 1.441, t = 3.10, P = 0.003), and the Mood Instability Factor (β = 0.105, t = 3.593, P = 0.001) contributed to approximately 46% of the FAST total score variance. New methodologies including subsyndromal symptoms and mood instability parameters might contribute to understand the worse long-term functional outcome that affects a considerable percentage of BD patients even after episode remission. Concerns about therapeutic approaches are discussed.

Emotional responses to a negative emotion induction procedure in Borderline Personality Disorder

The aim of this study was to determine if patients with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) present higher emotional response than healthy controls in a laboratory setting. Fifty participants (35 patients with BPD and 15 healthy controls) underwent a negative emotion induction procedure (presentation of standardized unpleasant images). Subjective emotional responses were assessed by means of self-reported questionnaires while biological reactivity during the procedure was measured through levels of salivary cortisol (sCORT) and alphaamylase (sAA). Patients with BPD exhibited significant lower cortisol levels and higher sAA levels compared to controls. Self-reported emotional reactivity did not give rise to differences between groups but participants with BPD did present higher levels of negative emotional intensity at baseline and during the entire procedure. The findings do not give support to the emotional hyperreactivity hypothesis in BPD. However, BPD patients presented heightened negative mood intensity at baseline, which should be considered a hallmark of the disorder. Further studies using more BPD-specific emotion inductions are needed to confirm the trends observed in this study.