Beyond words: Sensory properties of depressive thoughts

Moritz, SteffenUniv Hamburg, Dept Psychiat & Psychotherapy, D-20246 Hamburg, Germany (författare)

Beyond words : Sensory properties of depressive thoughts

Verbal thoughts (such as negative cognitions) and sensory phenomena (such as visual mental imagery) are usually conceptualised as distinct mental experiences. The present study examined to what extent depressive thoughts are accompanied by sensory experiences and how this is associated with symptom severity, insight of illness and quality of life. A large sample of mildly to moderately depressed patients (N = 356) was recruited from multiple sources and asked about sensory properties of their depressive thoughts in an online study. Diagnostic status and symptom severity were established over a telephone interview with trained raters. Sensory properties of negative thoughts were reported by 56.5% of the sample (i.e., sensation in at least one sensory modality). The highest prevalence was seen for bodily (39.6%) followed by auditory (30.6%) and visual (27.2%) sensations. Patients reporting sensory properties of thoughts showed more severe psychopathological symptoms than those who did not. The degree of perceptuality was marginally associated with quality of life. The findings support the notion that depressive thoughts are not only verbal but commonly accompanied by sensory experiences. The perceptuality of depressive thoughts and the resulting sense of authenticity may contribute to the emotional impact and pervasiveness of such thoughts, making them difficult to dismiss for their holder.

Hoermann, Claudia CecileUniv Hamburg, Dept Psychiat & Psychotherapy, D-20246 Hamburg, Germany (författare)
Schroeder, JohannaUniv Hamburg, Dept Psychiat & Psychotherapy, D-20246 Hamburg, Germany (författare)
Berger, ThomasUniv Bern, Dept Clin Psychol & Psychotherapy, Bern, Switzerland (författare)
Jacob, Gitta A.Univ Freiburg, Dept Clin Psychol & Psychotherapy, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany;Gaia AG, Hamburg, Germany (författare)
Meyer, BjoernGaia AG, Hamburg, Germany;City Univ London, Dept Psychol, London EC1V 0HB, England (författare)
Holmes, Emily A.MRC Cognit & Brain Sci Unit, Cambridge, England,EMIL(Swepub:uu)emiho252 (författare)
Spaeth, ChristinaMed Univ Lubeck, Dept Psychiat & Psychotherapy, D-23538 Lubeck, Germany (författare)
Hautzinger, MartinUniv Tubingen, Dept Psychol, Tubingen, Germany (författare)
Lutz, WolfgangUniv Trier, Dept Psychol, Trier, Germany (författare)
Rose, MatthiasMed Sch Charite, Dept Psychosomat Med, Berlin, Germany (författare)
Klein, Jan PhilippMed Univ Lubeck, Dept Psychiat & Psychotherapy, D-23538 Lubeck, Germany (författare)
Univ Hamburg, Dept Psychiat & Psychotherapy, D-20246 Hamburg, GermanyUniv Bern, Dept Clin Psychol & Psychotherapy, Bern, Switzerland (creator_code:org_t)

Ingår i:Cognition & Emotion: ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD28:6, s. 1047-10560269-99311464-0600

Av författaren/redakt...: Moritz, Steffen; Hoermann, Claudi ...; Schroeder, Johan ...; Berger, Thomas; Jacob, Gitta A.; Meyer, Bjoern; visa fler...; Holmes, Emily A.; Spaeth, Christin ...; Hautzinger, Mart ...; Lutz, Wolfgang; Rose, Matthias; Klein, Jan Phili ...; visa färre...

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