Mental control after dysphoria: Evidence of a suppressed, depressive bias

Previous research has generally failed to find persistent negative thinking following a depressive episode, suggesting that negative thoughts may simply be by-products of the emotional disturbance. The present research examined the idea that a persistent depressive bias does exist, but it is obscured by thought suppression. Mental control theory suggests that suppressed thoughts can be detected by assessing cognition before the effortful process of distraction is implemented. To test this prediction, formerly dysphoric, chronically dysphoric, and nondysphoric control groups interpreted audio recordings of words-some of which included homophones with emotional alternatives relevant to depression (e.g., weak/week). Participants wrote down each word either immediately or after a 10-sec delay. Although formerly dysphoric individuals did not display a depressive bias in the delayed condition, their immediate responses revealed a depressive bias. As predicted, the emergence of a negative bias was associated with high levels of chronic thought suppression.