Self-blame-selective social conceptual overgeneralization and vulnerability to depression

BackgroundBeck observed overgeneralized thinking as a key vulnerability factor for excessive self-blame/-criticism in major depressive disorder (MDD). Whilst the contribution of reduced access to specific autobiographical memory episodes has often been considered, the role of more abstract semantic memory systems remains elusive. Here, we investigated the individual ability to differentiate between the meaning of abstract social concepts when interpreting behavior (e.g. "critical" vs. "faultfinding") and its contribution to vulnerability to self-blaming biases and MDD using a previously developed cognitive task. MethodsCognitive testing in 96 participants (n=60 medication-free remitted MDD and n=36 control) and fMRI scanning in 75 participants employed self- and other-blame-evoking conditions. A priori right anterior temporal lobe (ATL) seed and bilateral anterior subgenual cingulate and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex regions-of-interest were defined. ResultsAs expected, the MDD group exhibited greater self-blame-selective conceptual overgeneralization and stronger interdependency of conceptual overgeneralization with negative emotional valence relative to the control group. Individuals with this depressogenic interdependency showed higher self-blame-selective right anterior subgenual cingulate and primary motor cortex activations across groups, potentially corresponding to stronger self-blame and self-agency attributions, respectively, when conceptually overgeneralizing the interpretation of their negative actions. Individuals with higher self-blame-selective conceptual overgeneralization displayed lower right ATL activation for self-vs. other-blame, suggesting reduced access to differentiated conceptual representations. ConclusionsFuture studies are needed to confirm the hypothesis that self-blame-selective conceptual overgeneralization characterizes a distinct neurocognitive subtype of primary MDD vulnerability which may be modulated by depressive state and thus serves as a personalized treatment target.