Cognitive vulnerability to depression : genetic and environmental influences

Antypa, N. (2011)

Doctoral Thesis

This thesis explores cognitive vulnerability to depression and the interplay between genetic and environmental influences. Cognitive vulnerability to depression is characterized by negative patterns of information processing. One aspect is cognitive reactivity - the tendency to respond with maladaptive thoughts when mood is challenged. Vulnerable individuals also show negative cognitive biases in emotion perception and attention, and impaired decision-making. How one processes personal and socially relevant information plays an important role in the development and maintenance of depression. The first part of the thesis reports how the interplay between genes and environment affects cognitive reactivity and emotional information processing. We observed that genes and environmental stressors interact to determine a person’s vulnerability to depression or resilience. Cognitive reactivity was also found to be a residual vulnerability factor in individuals with history of suicidal tendencies. The second part of the thesis is comprised of two experimental manipulations on emotional cognition. Effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation were examined on mood and cognition of healthy participants and recovered depressed individuals. Omega-3 fatty acids can have selective effects on mood and cognition of individuals, but the pathways through which this happens remain to be investigated.

• Depression
• Cognition
• Genes
• Environment
• Omega-3 fatty acids

• All authors: Antypa, N.
• Supervisor: Does, A.J.W. van der
• Committee: -
• Qualification: Doctor (dr.)
• Awarding Institution: Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University
• Date: 2011-06-21
• Court: LEI Universiteit Leiden