Poster #56 - Low Reward Responsiveness at age 16 Predicts Onset of Depression During 9 Years of Follow-up

• In Event: 3-053 - Poster Session 10
  In Poster Session: PS 10 Section - Developmental Psychopathology

Integrative Statement

Depressed individuals tend to be less responsive to rewards than healthy individuals (e.g., Forbes et al., 2012; Luking et al, 2016; Pizzagalli et al., 2008). There is preliminary evidence that low reward responsiveness precedes first onset of depression and may mark a vulnerability for depression (e.g., Bress et al., 2013; Forbes et al., 2007; Nelson et al., 2016; Rawal et al., 2013; Stringaris et al., 2015). The present study aimed to investigate whether low reward responsiveness at age 16 predicted onset of depression between age 16 and age 25. We hypothesized that reduced attentional engagement toward expected reward and increased disengagement from expected reward would predict depression during follow-up.

Data were collected in a population-based sample of the TRacking Adolescents’ Individual Lives Survey (TRAILS), an ongoing prospective cohort study investigating mental and social development from early adolescence into adulthood. Reward responsiveness, i.e., modification of attention by reward expectancies, was assessed at age 16 by means of the Spatial Orienting Task. Depression was assessed at age 19 by means of the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) and at age 25 by the Lifetime Depression Assessment Self-report (LIDAS). In the present study we included all participants who completed the reward task at age 16, had no prior onset of depression, and completed the CIDI at age 19 and/or the LIDAS at age 25. This yielded a sample of 531 individuals of whom 81 later developed a depressive disorder.

As hypothesized, we found that increased disengagement from reward at age 16 predicted depression during follow-up. Post hoc analyses revealed a more specific mechanism, i.e., individuals who later developed depression showed difficulties in shifting attention from expected nonreward to expected reward at age 16. This was only found at an automatic level of information processing, and not when the adolescents were given more time to control their responses. Contrary to expectations, we found no evidence that reduced engagement toward reward predicted onset of depression.

Our findings suggest that vulnerability to depression may not be characterized by problems with engaging in rewarding situations per se, but by the incapability to let go of negative situations and redirect attention to situations that may potentially be rewarding. Speculatively, this may lead to processing disproportionally more negative information than positive information, which may increase the risk for depression. For future prevention programs it may be useful to target low reward responsiveness in at risk adolescents, with a particular focus on redirecting attention from negative to positive situations.

Authors

• Charlotte Vrijen, University of Groningen
  Presenting Author

• Catharina A Hartman, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen
  Non-Presenting Author

• Albertine J Oldehinkel, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen
  Non-Presenting Author