Ruminative thoughts and depression

Ruminative thoughts and depression: is there any relationship between these concepts? According to an explanatory model of depression, yes. Susan Nolen-Hoeksema (1959-2013), American psychologist and professor of psychology at Yale University (USA), proposed in 1991 a theory that attempted to explain what factors influenced the course of depression.

Ruminative thoughts and depression

Susan Nolen-Hoeksema developed an explanatory model of depression called response styles theory. Through her theory, the psychologist suggests that if the person suffering from depression manifests a ruminative thinking style (ruminative thinking) at the first symptoms of the disorder, this style will influence the duration and severity of the disorder. That is to say, The greater the number (and intensity) of ruminative thoughts, the greater the duration and severity of the depression..

In other words, according to the author of the model, the person’s ruminative thoughts would make depression chronic and exacerbate its symptoms. On the other hand, in people who show an active style of thinking, based on distraction or problem solving, the disorder would be less serious and would not become chronic.

Rumination and response styles

Before continuing to explain the Nolen-Hoeksema model, we are going to explain what ruminative thoughts consist of (or a ruminative response style, according to the author). It is worth mentioning that there is a small nuance between both concepts.

Thus, while ruminative thoughts (rumination) involve an obsessive mental pattern in which a person oscillates between different aspects of an issue (going from one thought to another without finding any solution, turning things over); The ruminative response style was defined by Nolen-Hoeksema as a mental process that leads us to focus attention on the symptoms of the disorder and its implications for oneself.

In this way, we find that The ruminative response style would focus on the symptoms of the disorder and the ruminative thoughts on things in general. Having made this small nuance, we are going to move forward using both concepts interchangeably.

When do ruminative thoughts appear?

Ruminative thoughts do not only appear in people with depression, but also in people without any mental disorder or with some other type of disorder (for example, an anxiety disorder). However, when they appear in people with depression (always according to Susan’s model), the person does not implement any coping strategy, but instead dedicates themselves to give a thousand thoughts to your own symptoms and their consequences.

In short, the patient does not deal with his problem, but rather worries (incessantly) about it. In this sense, he does nothing to change his situation.

Remember (or clarify) here that this response pattern is not manifested by all people with depression, logically; The author of the model only talks about the consequences of said pattern in people who do manifest it.

Why do these thoughts appear?

Continuing with Susan Nolen-Hoeksema’s theory of response styles, as we have seen, there would be a relationship between ruminative thoughts and depression. The author suggests that the origin of this type of thoughts arises from two factors.

On the one hand, children’s learning by modeling (that is, we would reproduce, consciously or unconsciously, models that we have learned during childhood). And on the other hand, insufficient or inappropriate socialization practiceswhich would not provide the patient with a repertoire of more adaptive behaviors (necessary to face depression).

Effects of ruminative thoughts on depression

According to the author of the model, there are a series of mechanisms that allow us to understand why these types of thoughts influence and worsen depression. Which are? We found four.

Appearance of vicious circles

Vicious cycles occur between the patient’s depressed mood and negative cognitions. that arise from this. In this way, the patient would enter a loop: his mood, being depressed, would negatively influence his cognitions; These, in turn, would increase the depressed mood.

No effective solutions are generated

Another mechanism that would explain the relationship between ruminative thoughts and depression would be the patient’s failure to generate effective solutions. I mean, like The person is too busy worrying about their symptoms, which would prevent an effective solution from being implemented. to change your situation or your mood.

Interference occurs

By continually ruminating, there is interference from instrumental behaviors that could provide us with positive reinforcement or pleasure. In turn, we lose a sense of control. In a nutshell: If we are ruminating, we cannot apply adaptive behaviors and therefore we become “anchored” in depression..

Weakening social support

Finally, according to S. Nolen-Holeksma, the weakening of social support would also arise from the context of ruminative thoughts and depression.

So, People around them would end up rejecting the person with depression or even criticizing them, seeing that you are continually worrying about your situation without doing anything to change it. It may sound unfair, but this happens and the environment is a key piece in overcoming depression (more specifically, perceived social support).

Neurosciences, depression and rumination

It was also found a weakened or abnormal functioning of the other network, the CNN, which was related to negative automatic thoughts (Aaron Beck’s PANs, similar to ruminative thoughts), low concentration and cognitive distortions.

As we have seen, ruminative thoughts and depression are closely related. So, These types of thoughts could worsen the course of depression, so treating them appropriately in therapy can help reduce its impact and its severity. There are multiple techniques that allow us to stop these types of thoughts, such as, for example, thought stopping and complementary techniques, such as relaxation.

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