1. The Impact of Fear of Depressed Mood on Physiological Responding in Veterans with Unipolar Depression
1Khan, A. J., 1Dick, A., 1Kind, S., 2,5Black, S. K., 1Suvak, M., 2,3,4 Kamholz, B. W., 2,5Sloan, D. M., 1Liverant, G. I.
1Psychology Department, Suffolk University, Boston, MA, USA , 2Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA
3VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA, 4Department of Psychology, Boston University, Boston, MA USA
5National Center for PTSD - Behavioral Science Division, Boston, MA USA
Introduction
Results
Preliminary findings suggest fear of depressed mood (FOD) moderates emotion regulation (ER) outcomes associated with the regulation of sadness among individuals with depression (Liverant et al., 2008).  The current study aimed to further examine the influence of FOD on physiological responding in response to use of ER strategies in a large sample of Veterans with unipolar depression. We hypothesized that suppression would lead to short-term reductions in physiological indices, but this effect would be moderated by FOD.
Significant three-way interactions in the suppression group emerged for MHR (p < .001, Figure A1) and MRP (p < .001, Figure B1).
Change score calculations revealed during the mood induction (E.I.), individuals with higher FOD had elevated levels of MHR (Figure A2) and lower levels of MRP (Figure B2) compared to acceptance and control group. Thus, the impact of ER strategy on physiology depended upon level of FOD in this sample. A1 A2
Methods
80 Veterans (87.5% Male, Mean Age = 51.2, SD = 11.19) diagnosed with unipolar depression were recruited from a large VA Healthcare System in the Northeastern United States.
Demographics: 78.8% Caucasian, 12.5% African American, 3.8% Hispanic, 2.5% Asian, 2.5% Multiracial.
This study examined the impact of FOD and ER on physiological responding in response to a sad autobiographical mood induction.
Physiological variables
Mean heart rate (MHR)
Mean respiration (MRP)
Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA)
Participants were provided with ER instructions (control, acceptance or suppression) before undergoing a sad mood induction during which they utilized the assigned ER strategies.
Recorded scripts generated from a semi-structured interview designed to elicit narrative descriptions of a recent sadness-provoking incident were used to induce sadness (e.g., Lang & Cuthbert, 1984; Keane et al., 1998).
Procedure
Phase 1: Baseline (BL; 5 min)
Phase 2: ER instructions (control, acceptance or suppression) (ER; 6 min)
Phase 3: Autobiographical sad mood induction (EI; 1.5 min)
Phase 4: Recovery period (Rec; 5 min)
Multilevel regression analyses tested FOD x ER condition interactions to examine whether FOD moderated the impact of ER on physiology.
Follow-up change scores were calculated to assess physiological responsiveness by subtracting baseline from emotion induction period. B1 B2
Discussion
These findings suggest that anxiety about the experience of depressed mood may be a key construct that influences the physiological effects of ER strategy use among individuals with depression (Liverant et al., 2008). Specifically, findings suggest that acceptance may be more effective for reduction of heart rate at higher versus lower levels of FOD. In contrast, suppression seems to be more effective for the reduction of respiration at higher levels of FOD. Future research is needed to better understand these relationships and their application to the use of ER training in the treatment of depression.
References available upon request.