Cognitive Representations (Metaphorical Conceptualizations) of PAST, FUTURE, JOY, SADNESS and HAPPINESS in Depressive and Non-depressive Subjects: Cognitive Distortions in Depression at the Level of Notion

Abstract

The aim of this study was to see if and how the intensity of depression correlates with the cognitive representation of notions, and if any influence is reversed during remission. The cognitive representation indices used were the valence and number of metaphors produced for a notion. Three adult groups took part: persons with depression (), persons in remission (), and a control group (). Five notions were considered: PAST, FUTURE, JOY, SADNESS, and HAPPINESS. The Questionnaire of the Metaphorical Conceptualization of a Notion was used. The results showed that (a) depressive subjects did not have problems with metaphorical processing, (b) depressive subjects demonstrated strong interpretational negativism, (c) subjects during remission did not present distorted conceptual processing. The results are discussed in the context of theories of automatic metaphor processing, and conceptions of cognitive depressive distortions, in tasks requiring effort and substantial involvement of cognitive resources.

Semantic Distances in Depression: Relations Between ME and PAST, FUTURE, JOY, SADNESS, HAPPINESS

“…The similarity between cognitive functions that are disturbed as a result of depression, and those that are significant from the point of view of metaphorical processing, prompted us to conclude (see Bartczak and Bokus 2015) that depression could be correlated with changes in cognitive representations of notions; in particular that (a) depressive subjects would produce fewer metaphors of a given notion than healthy subjects, and that (b) compared to the cognitive representations of notions produced by healthy subjects, the cognitive representations of neutral and positive notions produced by depressive subjects would have more negative valence, while the cognitive representations of negative notions - more positive valence. (We understood notions as mental representations of elements of the external or inner reality.…”

“…Three adult Polish-speaking groups participated in the study: patients suffering from depression, those currently in remission from depression, and non-depressed individuals. The task (the Questionnaire of the Metaphorical Conceptualization of a Notion, QMCN; for a detailed description, see Bartczak and Bokus 2015) was to read sentences about PAST, FUTURE, JOY, SADNESS, and HAPPINESS and to assess how accurately they described the notions. Each sentence had previously been judged by competent raters relative to valence, metaphoricity, and conventionalization.…”

“…Each sentence had previously been judged by competent raters relative to valence, metaphoricity, and conventionalization. (For specimen sentences and detailed information about participants, data analysis, and results, see Bartczak and Bokus 2015). …”

“…To keep consistency with the first part of our project (Bartczak and Bokus 2015), we wanted the notions under investigation to be conceptualized metaphorically: The participants were asked to treat them as guests coming to a party and to seat them at a round table (for details, see “Materials: The Semantic Distance Task” subsection). Our tool, the Semantic Distance Task (SDT, see below), enabled us to describe the relations between the notions as semantic distances and to express them numerically.…”

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for schizophrenia: an overview on efficacy, recent trends and neurobiological findings

“…1,9 Patients with psychiatric disorders commonly display cognitive distortions as they perceive and process information in a way that does not match reality. [10][11][12][13][14] The main goal of CBT is to change dysfunctional thoughts into more adapted and realistic alternative thoughts, allowing improvements in the emotional and behavioral state of the patient. 8,9 To achieve these changes, therapists combine a wide-range of cognitive the psychotic experience.…”