A recent study offers new insights into preventing depression relapse among millions of Americans who experience major depression. Researchers have found that the key to tackling depression is fighting negative thoughts.
Learning to shift focus from negative to positive aspects of everyday life may significantly reduce the odds of relapse.
The study, conducted by a team led by Lira Yoon, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, delved into the way individuals with a history of major depression process both negative and positive information.
Research Says Start Fighting Negative Thoughts
The research involved an analysis of 44 previous studies, encompassing more than 2,000 people with a history of major depressive disorder and over 2,200 without it.
Participants’ responses to negative, positive, and neutral information were examined, including emotional cues such as images and words.
The findings revealed that those with a history of major depression tended to spend more time processing negative information and faced challenges in disengaging from irrelevant negative thoughts.
The ability to disengage from unhelpful information is crucial for maintaining emotional well-being. Some individuals can move on from stressful situations and focus on immediate tasks, while others struggle, allowing negative thoughts to intrude upon their current activities.
The study highlights that individuals with a history of depression experience difficulty disengaging from irrelevant negative information, which may hinder their ability to focus on the present moment and perform necessary tasks.
Such difficulty in disengaging from negative thoughts could contribute to a cycle of negative emotions, potentially leading to a higher vulnerability to future episodes of depression.
This is a significant concern considering that over 21 million U.S. adults experienced at least one episode of major depression in 2021, according to the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health. More than half of those individuals are likely to experience a relapse, often within two years of recovery.
To prevent relapse, effective treatments for depression include therapy and medication, with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) being a widely used approach. CBT emphasizes cognitive restructuring, helping individuals reinterpret situations from a more positive perspective.
Dr. George Alvarado, a psychiatrist at Northwell Health in New York, explains that lifestyle changes such as maintaining good sleep, exercising, and adopting a healthy diet are also crucial for mood regulation.
While existing therapies like CBT and mindfulness can be valuable tools for helping individuals disengage from negative information, the study suggests the need for more specialized training programs tailored to individuals with a history of depression.
Yoon proposes the development of training programs that target disengaging from irrelevant information, potentially providing additional support beyond traditional therapies.
In the pursuit of better mental health outcomes, a multifaceted approach that includes therapy, lifestyle adjustments, and specialized training programs may prove instrumental in preventing depression relapse.
As researchers continue to explore the interplay between cognitive processes and emotional well-being, individuals facing depression can benefit from a variety of strategies to maintain positive mental health.