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Counterfactual thinking and functional differences in depression
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Abstract(s)
The purpose of the studies reported in this paper was to evaluate the
function of counterfactual thinking (CT) in depression. In Experiment
1, depressed and non-depressed participants were asked to
imagine themselves as the protagonist of a hypothetical situation,
and to think counterfactually about three different scenarios. The
results showed that there was a similar CT style (in terms of direction,
structure and focus of mutation) for the depressed and the nondepressed
groups. It was also found that the perceived preparation
for a future similar situation increased after CT and, contrary to our
hypotheses, this effect was observed in both groups. In Experiment
2, a real-life situation was used (a course examination) in which participants
experienced a negative outcome (a poor score on the test).
Again, it was observed that depressed and non-depressed participants
showed the same CT style, but non-depressed participants were more
likely to use CT spontaneously. In addition, the second study showed
further differences between the two groups: depressed participants
not only showed a lack of cognitive benefi ts from thinking counterfactually
(i.e., after CT they do not feel more prepared for future
similar events, nor able to avoid a similar bad outcome, in contrast to
the non-depressed participants), but also show a lack of behavioural
changes (both intentions to change and actual changes over the subsequent
week). In conclusion, these results provide evidence about
the function of CT both in depressed and in non-depressed thinking,
and highlight both the similarities and differences for these two
groups.
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Citation
Clinical Psychology and Psychotheray, 15, 352-365