Behavioral Inhibition/Activation Systems and Depression Among Females With Substance Use Disorder: The Mediating Role of Intolerance of Uncertainty and Anhedonia

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that the behavioral inhibition/activation systems (BIS/BAS) have substantial effects on substance use disorder and emotional disorders, and substance use disorder and emotional disorders often occur; in particular, females with substance use disorder are more likely to also have serious emotional disorders including depression than their male counterparts. However, the associations between the BIS/BAS and depression in females with substance use disorder have received little attention. Furthermore, the underlying mechanisms of these relations are largely unknown. The present study examines the mediating roles of intolerance of uncertainty and anhedonia in the associations between the BIS/BAS and depression among females with substance use disorder from the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework. A total of 303 females with substance use disorder from a compulsory substance abuse detention center were tested using a cross-sectional survey involving BIS/BAS Scales, Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale, and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. The path analysis model revealed that both the BIS and BAS had a direct effect on depression, that the BIS had an indirect effect on depression through intolerance of uncertainty, and that the BAS had an indirect effect on depression via anhedonia. These findings contribute to a more thorough understanding of how the BIS/BAS influence depression among females with substance use disorder and suggest that the utility of targeting these associations in treatments would help reduce depression in females with substance use disorder.

The mediating role of alexithymia and cognitive flexibility in the relationship between behavioral inhibition system/behavioral activation system and depression in Turkish population

“…This can increase the tendency towards depression in the presence of low levels of cognitive flexibility and high levels of alexithymia. Therewithal, there is research showing that positive experiences, lack of expectations (Beevers & Meyer, 2002), and anhedonia (Xie et al, 2021) mediate the relationship between BAS and depression. At this point, it can be mentioned that there can be a possibility of an increase in the activation of BAS arising from low positive experiences and the lack of pleasure.…”

“…There are numerous studies investigating the associations between depression, BIS/BAS, alexithymia, and cognitive flexibility; however, in these studies, the mediator roles of alexithymia and cognitive flexibility were not examined. On the other hand, it has been determined that many different concepts, such as emotion regulation, difficulty in emotion regulation, coping strategies, and anhedonia, have significant mediating effects in the relationship between BIS/BAS and depression (Hundt et al, 2013; Markarian et al, 2013; Sun et al, 2020; Xie et al, 2021). It is known that these listed variables are related to alexithymia and cognitive flexibility in various aspects.…”

Network Analysis of the Relationship Between Trait Depression and Impulsiveness Among Youth

“…However, the cognitive component is an important factor in depression (52). Another possible reason is that "motor" impulsiveness, defined as impaired behavioral inhibition (9), is included in the behavioral inhibition system that has a weak correlation with anhedonia (53). The other three facets (e.g., "non-planning" impulsiveness, "trait anhedonia, " and "trait dysthymia") have no significant difference in relative importance from neither "cognitive" impulsiveness nor "motor" impulsiveness.…”

Reactive and Regulative Temperament in Relation to Clinical Symptomatology and Personality Disorders in Patients with a Substance Use Disorder

“…Additionally, research linked depression to a reward hyposensitivity (low BAS) resulting in a lower approach motivation [18]. Furthermore, behavioral activation interventions have played an important role in treating depressive episodes and reducing relapses [42]. Previous results also indicated that low BAS sensitivity is not only a potential marker of vulnerability to depression but also may be useful in predicting the course of the depressive disorder [18,42].…”