Abnormal emotional reactivity in depression: Contrasting theoretical models using neurophysiological data.

Several theoretical models of aberrant emotional experiences in depression have been suggested. These models include potentiated reactivity to negatively-valenced stimuli, attenuated reactivity to positively-valenced stimuli, and attenuated emotional reactivity across contexts (termed emotion-context insensitivity). It is unclear if these models apply uniquely to depression or if they can explain other closely related symptoms, such as anxiety or general negative affect. The current study (N = 122) is the first to utilize structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques on neurophysiological data (event-related potentials, or ERPs) to empirically compare these theoretical models, thereby integrating perspectives from clinical psychology with affective neuroscience and advanced statistical techniques. We recorded ERPs during a passive viewing emotional task. Correlational analyses revealed several small, non-significant negative relationships between depression symptoms and emotional reactivity to both pleasant and unpleasant stimuli. However, SEM analyses revealed significantly attenuated emotional reactivity, to both pleasant and unpleasant stimuli, for depressive symptomatology. These relationships were specific to depression and did not apply to anxiety or internalizing symptoms broadly. Model comparisons revealed support for the emotional-context insensitivity hypothesis. Findings from this study are evidence in support of marrying novel techniques (here, SEM and ERPs) to test important theoretical questions regarding internalizing symptomatology.