Emphasizing Malleability in the biology of depression: Durable effects on perceived agency and prognostic pessimism.
Biological attributions for depression, which are currently ascendant, can lead to prognostic pessimism-the perception that symptoms are relatively immutable and unlikely to abate (Kvaale, Haslam, & Gottdiener, 2013; Lebowitz, Ahn, & Nolen-Hoeksema, 2013). Among symptomatic individuals, this may have important clinical ramifications, as reduced confidence in one's own ability to overcome depression carries the risk of becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. Previous research (Lebowitz, Ahn, et al., 2013) has demonstrated that educational interventions teaching symptomatic individuals about how the effects of genetic and neurobiological factors involved in depression are malleable and can be modified by experiences and environmental factors can reduce prognostic pessimism. While previous research demonstrated such effects only in the immediate term, the present research extends these findings by testing whether such benefits persist six weeks after the intervention. Indeed, among individuals who initially considered biological factors to play a major role in influencing their levels of depression, exposure to malleability-focused psychoeducation reduced levels of depression-related prognostic pessimism and stronger belief in their ability to regulate their moods. Critically, this benefit persisted six weeks after the intervention. Clinical implications of the findings are discussed.
['Lebowitz|Matthew S|MS|', 'Ahn|Woo-kyoung|WK|']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D016022:Case-Control Studies D003863:Depression D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D010353:Patient Education as Topic D000067657:Pessimism D011379:Prognosis D020377:Self Efficacy D055815:Young Adult
Depression Agency Prognostic pessimism Psychoeducation Biological explanations