Since heterogeneity in depressed patients makes treatment decisions difficult and treatment often unsuccessful, we seek to identify certain subtypes of depression. 30 to 40% of depressed patients... Show moreSince heterogeneity in depressed patients makes treatment decisions difficult and treatment often unsuccessful, we seek to identify certain subtypes of depression. 30 to 40% of depressed patients have anger regulation problems; from irritability to anger attacks. What is the significance of anger in depression? Does it signify a subtype of depression? In the NESDA cohort, we compared a large sample of currently depressed patients with irritability to currently depressed patients without irritability. Irritable depressed patients had more symptoms of depression, more often had comorbid anxiety and had more often attempted suicide than non-irritable depressed patients. In a student sample, we investigated the role of the MAOA genotype and found that women with the high expression variant are possibly more vulnerable to anger or aggression during depression. Using acute tryptophan depletion we temporarily lowered serotonin in remitted depressed patients with and without anger regulation problems during their depression. We found no cognitive differences between the two groups, but the experiment did show us that depressed patients with anger regulation problems may be more serotonergically vulnerable. Further research is needed to elucidate best suited treatment strategies for anger regulation problems in depression Show less
Cross-cultural research shows that cultural frameworks provide guidance on what to feel and when, and how to express emotions from a young age. These cultural variations can cause misinterpretation... Show moreCross-cultural research shows that cultural frameworks provide guidance on what to feel and when, and how to express emotions from a young age. These cultural variations can cause misinterpretation and misunderstanding and are especially relevant for ethnic minority groups, who may be described as living ‘in between’ cultures. This thesis examines the extent to which Moroccan-Dutch adolescents’ emotional functioning can be considered in between cultures. Their emotion awareness, acknowledgment of social emotions, anger regulation, and anger communication was compared with those of their Dutch peers and with those of their peers living in Morocco. The thesis also addresses the adaptiveness of these aspects of emotional functioning in terms of psychological functioning. The results reveal that, overall, Moroccan-Dutch adolescents’ emotional functioning shows more similarities with that of their Dutch than their Moroccan peers. Although these ‘Dutch’ emotion patterns do not always seem adaptive for Moroccan-Dutch adolescents’ psychological wellbeing, the findings suggest that their emotional functioning in peer situations is a product of the Dutch culture. Show less
