Performance-based attentional control, but not self-reported attentional control, predicts changes in depression symptom severity in short-term psychotherapy

Abstract

Objective: Although impairments in attentional control are pervasive across psychopathology, there is substantial individual variability in both self-reported and task-based indicators. In the current study, we examined whether individual differences in self-reported and performance-based measures of attentional control predict changes in depressive symptoms and well-being in a diagnostically diverse sample of patients enrolled in a CBT-based partial hospital program. Method: Participants were 89 patients (56.2% men, 75.3% non-Hispanic White) recruited from a partial hospital treatment program in Northeastern United States. At baseline, patients completed the self-reported Attentional Control Scale and the Rapid Serial Visual Presentation task (RSVP), a behavioral measure of attentional control. Depressive symptoms were assessed daily using the Patient Health Questionnaire and well-being was assessed using the Mental Health Continuum Short Form.Results: On average, greater self-reported attentional control was significantly associated with lower depressive symptoms, b = -.37, p < .001 and greater well-being, b = .63, p < .001. More accurate task-based performance was associated with a decline in depressive symptoms over time, b = -.02, p = .02. Neither self-reported nor performance-based measures of attentional control predicted changes in well-being. Exploratory discordance analyses suggest that depressive symptoms also improved over time for individuals who underestimated self-reported attentional control abilities relative to task-based performance, b = -0.13, p = .03.Conclusions: Results suggest that performance-based attentional control may be an important target for assessment and intervention, as well as a potential mechanism underlying risk and recovery.