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Self-processing in relation to emotion and reward processing in depression

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 September 2021

Catherine Hobbs Open the ORCID record for Catherine Hobbs [Opens in a new window] ,
Jie Sui ,
David Kessler ,
Marcus R. Munafò  and
Katherine S. Button
Catherine Hobbs*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK
Jie Sui
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
David Kessler
Affiliation:
Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
Marcus R. Munafò
Affiliation:
School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, Bristol, UK National Institute of Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
Katherine S. Button
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Catherine Hobbs, E-mail: c.hobbs@bath.ac.uk
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Abstract

Background

Depression is characterised by a heightened self-focus, which is believed to be associated with differences in emotion and reward processing. However, the precise relationship between these cognitive domains is not well understood. We examined the role of self-reference in emotion and reward processing, separately and in combination, in relation to depression.

Methods

Adults experiencing varying levels of depression (n = 144) completed self-report depression measures (PHQ-9, BDI-II). We measured self, emotion and reward processing, separately and in combination, using three cognitive tasks.

Results

When self-processing was measured independently of emotion and reward, in a simple associative learning task, there was little association with depression. However, when self and emotion processing occurred in combination in a self-esteem go/no-go task, depression was associated with an increased positive other bias [b = 3.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.24–5.79]. When the self was processed in relation to emotion and reward, in a social evaluation learning task, depression was associated with reduced positive self-biases (b = 0.11, 95% CI 0.05–0.17).

Conclusions

Depression was associated with enhanced positive implicit associations with others, and reduced positive learning about the self, culminating in reduced self-favouring biases. However, when self, emotion and reward processing occurred independently there was little evidence of an association with depression. Treatments targeting reduced positive self-biases may provide more sensitive targets for therapeutic intervention and potential biomarkers of treatment responses, allowing the development of more effective interventions.

Keywords

Depressionselfself-schemaemotionrewardaffective biases
Type
Original Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 53 , Issue 5 , April 2023 , pp. 1924 - 1936
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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