Inferences Training Affects Memory, Rumination, and Mood

Abstract

Making negative inferences for negative events, ruminating about them, and retrieving negative aspects of memories have all been associated with depression. However, the causal mechanisms that link negative inferences to negative mood and the interplay between inferences, rumination, and memory have not been explored. In the current study, we used a cognitive-bias modification (CBM) procedure to train causal inferences and assessed training effects on ruminative thinking, memory, and negative mood among people with varying levels of depression. Training had immediate effects on negative mood and rumination but not after recall of a negative autobiographical memory. Note that training affected memory: Participants falsely recalled inferences presented during the training in a training-congruent manner. Moreover, among participants with high levels of depression, training also affected causal inferences they made for an autobiographical memory retrieved after training. Our findings shed light on negative cognitive cycles that may contribute to depression.

Effectiveness of memory bias modification in reducing depression and rumination symptoms and autobiographical memory bias: a pilot study

“…Participants exhibited significant improvements from pre- to post-training in removing negative information from working memory, symptoms of depression, and rumination. In another study, Perlman et al (2022) used a CBM procedure to train causal inferences and assess training effects on ruminative thinking, memory, and negative mood among people with different levels of depression. Training had immediate effects on negative mood and rumination but not after the recall of a negative autobiographical memory.…”

“…On the grounds of moderate effectiveness of the CBM interventions on memory bias in depressive disorders ( Vrijsen et al, 2016 , 2019 ; Hitchcock et al, 2017 ; Arditte Hall et al, 2018 ; Jopling et al, 2020 ; Visser et al, 2020 ; Perlman et al, 2022 ), developing preventive protocols seems to be essential for averting or postponing future episodes of depressive disorders in vulnerable individuals. Nonetheless, only a few studies have examined CBM-Memory and further studies are needed to replicate results with different samples and populations.…”