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The phenomenological characteristics of autobiographical future thinking in dysphoric and non-dysphoric individuals
Depressive symptoms are associated with deficits in objectively-rated detail and specificity in autobiographical future thinking for personally-relevant events. However, how depressive symptoms might affect the subjective, phenomenal characteristics of future thinking in general is not well understood. This study examined future thinking as self-reported by dysphoric (n = 79; probable major depression on the Patient Health Questionnaire and very or extremely difficult impact on functioning) and non-dysphoric adults (n = 79; as defined by normal range on the PHQ) that were matched on age and gender. The dysphoric group reported more frequent thoughts about their future in general, particularly for the long-term future, which persisted after controlling for emotional-valence. Dysphoric individuals perceived their future thinking as being more frequently vivid and detailed, more often involving mental imagery and inner speech, more often involuntary, more often unrealistic or implausible, more negatively-valenced, and more often from a third-person perspective. The findings indicate differences in the phenomenology of thinking about one's future among dysphoric individuals, some of which contrast with prior research findings. The implications for understanding autobiographical future thinking in depression are discussed, and studies are indicated to further clarify the content, function, and context of future thinking in altered affective states.
History
Journal
Psychiatry researchVolume
273Pagination
481 - 486Publisher
ElsevierLocation
Amsterdam, The NetherlandsPublisher DOI
ISSN
0165-1781eISSN
1872-7123Language
engPublication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2018, Elsevier B.V.Usage metrics
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Autobiographical future thinkingEpisodic future thinkingAutobiographicalDysphoriaDepressionScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicinePsychiatryMAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDERFALSE DISCOVERY RATEPHENOMENAL CHARACTERISTICSVANTAGE PERSPECTIVEINTRUSIVE MEMORIESMENTAL-IMAGERYVALENCESPECIFICITYRUMINATIONFREQUENCY
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