Psychological Processes in Depression: Interpretation Bias and Mental Imagery
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Psychiatry
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Emily Holmes (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Blackwell S
(2010)
Modifying interpretation and imagination in clinical depression: A single case series using cognitive bias modification
in Applied Cognitive Psychology
Browning M
(2010)
The modification of attentional bias to emotional information: A review of the techniques, mechanisms, and relevance to emotional disorders.
in Cognitive, affective & behavioral neuroscience
Deeprose C
(2010)
An exploration of prospective imagery: the impact of future events scale.
in Behavioural and cognitive psychotherapy
Goodwin GM
(2009)
Bipolar anxiety.
in Revista de psiquiatria y salud mental
Holmes EA
(2009)
Mental imagery and emotion in treatment across disorders: using the example of depression.
in Cognitive behaviour therapy
Holmes EA
(2009)
Developing interpretation bias modification as a "cognitive vaccine" for depressed mood: imagining positive events makes you feel better than thinking about them verbally.
in Journal of abnormal psychology
Holmes EA
(2007)
Imagery about suicide in depression--"Flash-forwards"?
in Journal of behavior therapy and experimental psychiatry
Holmes EA
(2008)
Mental imagery as an emotional amplifier: application to bipolar disorder.
in Behaviour research and therapy
Holmes EA
(2007)
Imagery rescripting in cognitive behaviour therapy: images, treatment techniques and outcomes.
in Journal of behavior therapy and experimental psychiatry
Holmes EA
(2008)
Inducing and modulating intrusive emotional memories: a review of the trauma film paradigm.
in Acta psychologica
| Description | This interdisciplinary research within "ESRC strategic priority: Influencing Behaviour and Informing Interventions" integrated theory and methods from experimental psychology and clinical psychology via cognitive science to "experimental psychopathology". This involves studying processes in the general population which hold key relevance to mental health and treatment innovation. This first application of the following methodologies to depression led to thirteen peer-reviewed articles, and generated new grants and research streams in our lab and beyond: 1) Cognitive Bias Modification using Mental Imagery (references 1, 2) (Projects 1 and 3) modified cognitive biases through systematic exposure to valenced stimuli (positive/negative/neutral according to experimental condition). Key outcomes were mood and bias change . 2) Stressful Film Paradigm: Inducing Involuntary Mental Imagery (reference 3) (Project 2). Participants viewed depressive/stressful film clips and then completed one of three experimental manipulations: 1) imagery-competing task (complex pattern tapping); 2) verbal working memory control task (counting backwards); 3) no-task control (sitting quietly). Key outcome was the number of intrusive images of the film that came back over one week. Key predictions were confirmed: • Mental imagery has a stronger impact on emotion than verbal thought [ref 1] • Negative interpretation bias is causal in inducing depressed mood [ref 2] • Positive interpretation bias can be successfully induced using novel mental imagery-based computerised techniques [ref 1, 2] offering potential for a novel treatment for depression [ref 3] • Negative Mental Imagery after a depressing/stressful film may be dampened using simple imagery-competing tasks [ref 4, 5] These findings present an important first step in developing innovative, evidence-based treatments for depression - "cognitive vaccines". References 1. Holmes, E. A., Lang, T. J., & Shah, D. M. (2009). Developing interpretation bias modification as a 'cognitive vaccine' for depressed mood: imagining positive events makes you feel better than thinking about them verbally. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 118(1), 76-88 2. Reinecke, A., et al. (in prep). Interpretation bias exerts a causal, bidirectional influence on the emotional, cognitive and behavioral symptoms of depression. 3. Blackwell, S. E., & Holmes, E. A. (2010). Modifying interpretation and imagination in clinical depression: A single case series using cognitive bias modification. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 24(3), 338-350. 4. Holmes, E. A., & Bourne, C. (2008). Inducing and modulating intrusive emotional memories: a review of the trauma film paradigm. Acta Psychologica, 127, 553-566. 5. Deeprose, C., Zhang, S., Dejong, H, Dalgleish, T., & Holmes, E. A. (2012). Imagery in the aftermath of viewing a traumatic film: Using cognitive tasks to modulate the development of involuntary memory. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 43(2), 758-764. Background References 1. Holmes EA, et al. Positive interpretation training: effects of mental imagery versus verbal training on positive mood. Behavior Therapy. 2006;37:237-47. 2. Holmes EA, Mathews A. Mental imagery and emotion: A special relationship? Emotion. 2005;5(4):489-97. 3. Holmes EA, et al. Trauma films, information processing, and intrusive memory development. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. 2004;133:3-22. see also: http://www.mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk/our-research/holmes |
| Exploitation Route | Depression is a common mental health problem, with significant economic and societal cost in the UK. The 2010 NICE guidelines for depression highly recommend psychological treatments. However, these treatments still have a limited impact and many individuals with mental health issues are unable to seek help because of factors related to treatment availability and accessibility e.g. the distance needed to travel to meet face-to-face for traditional talking therapy, time constraints associated with personal circumstances or caring responsibilities, and finally, cost. Other individuals are unable to participate in talking therapy due to other medical or psychological disorders. There is therefore a need for novel, innovative evidence-based approaches to treatment, and in particular treatments designed to be widely and easily-available, as well as cost-effective, if they are to make an impact on an economic or societal level. Using computer programs via the Internet rather than direct therapist contact may provide a viable and effective option for those unable or unwilling to access traditional therapy. The early stage computerised "cognitive vaccines" (a term we coined) for depression, developed as a key component of the completed grant, delivered promising results in the laboratory with healthy volunteers. With the required scientific evidence-base emerging, the research is now at the critical translational stage into potential real-world treatments. Computerised treatment options, such as the bias modification "cognitive vaccines" may provide a cost-effective, modern lifestyle option, bringing both economic and societal benefits. See for example this article in the Economist which relates to this research: The Economist (2011). Therapist-free therapy. The Economist, 398(8723), 82-83. Also available to view online at http://www.economist.com/node/18276234?story_id=18276234. 3rd March, 2011 We are now developing the therapeutic application of this line of ESRC funded research work. It is currently being tested in a clinical trial to help people with depression, supported by the Lupina Foundation in our clinical research group at the MRC Cognition and Brain Science Unit, Cambridge: Grant funded by the Lupina Foundation (Canada) titled "The promotion of optimistic thinking styles: A novel mental imagery intervention via the internet" (2010 - 2014). see also: http://www.mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk/our-research/holmes/ Psychological science to promote wellbeing is key to society, its economy and impact. We hope a future major impact of our work will be to continue to strengthen an interdisciplinary dialogue between areas of psychology (e.g. experimental psychology and clinical psychology) and with other disciplines (e.g. law, computing, etc) as well as potential translational opportunities (health technology and computerised interventions). |
| URL | http://www.mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk/people/emily.holmes/ |