Behaviour Research and Therapy 45 (2007) 563–575 An experimental investigation of the cognitive vulnerability to depression Alisa R. Singer à , Keith S. Dobson Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. N. W. Calgary, Alta., Canada T2N 1N4 Received 27 January 2006; received in revised form 28 April 2006; accepted 9 May 2006 Abstract The present study employed an experimental design, to examine the role of metacognitive processing in the prevention of relapse to depression. Eighty remitted depressed participants were randomly allocated to receive training in the metacognitive style of rumination, distraction, acceptance or no training control prior to a negative mood induction. Rumination prolonged the intensity of the negative mood consistent with no training, whereas both distraction and acceptance reduced the intensity of the negative mood. Changes in attitudes were only found in the acceptance condition, as participants in this condition reduced negative attitudes towards negative experiences. These results are consistent with information processing theory, and imply that acceptance-based preventative interventions may operate by both reducing the intensity of sad moods and altering one’s attitudes towards temporary moments of sadness. r 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Major depression; Metacognition; Relapse; Cognitive processes; Cognitive therapy Introduction Given the evidence that depression is often a recurrent disorder (e.g., Judd, 1997), recent efforts have been directed to the prediction of relapse and relapse prevention (Dobson & Ottenbreit, 2004; Teasdale et al., 2002). Teasdale, Segal, and Williams (1995) have described an information processing theory for relapse that proposes that formerly depressed individuals are at risk for relapse because of an information processing style that perpetuates the accessibility of negative schema, memories and attitudes during periods of low mood. When these schemas are continuously activated, negative specific meanings are generated such as negative predictions for the future, attributions of failures to personal inadequacy, negative evaluations of interpersonal interactions, and retrieval of memories of previous failures or difficulties. Teasdale et al. (1995) postulated that when experiencing negative affect, individuals at risk for depressive relapse tend to reactivate the thinking styles associated with previous sad moods. Specifically, they tend to ruminate or dwell on the reasons for their low mood, which in turn perpetuates a negative cognitive set and through this chronicity, predisposes individuals to future depressive relapse. ARTICLE IN PRESS www.elsevier.com/locate/brat 0005-7967/$ - see front matter r 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2006.05.007 à Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 403 943 5660; fax: +1 403 282 8249. E-mail address: alisa.singer@ucalgary.ca (A.R. Singer). FOR HKMA CME MEMBER USE ONLY. DO NOT REPRODUCE OR DISTRIBUTE. FOR HKMA CME MEMBER USE ONLY. DO NOT REPRODUCE OR DISTRIBUTE.