Cognitive remediation for depression vulnerability: Current challenges and new directions

Yannick Vander Zwalmen; Kristof Hoorelbeke; Eveline Liebaert; Constance Nève de Mévergnies; Ernst H W Koster

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.903446

Cognitive remediation for depression vulnerability: Current challenges and new directions

Front Psychol. 2022 Jul 22:13:903446. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.903446. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Yannick Vander Zwalmen¹, Kristof Hoorelbeke¹, Eveline Liebaert², Constance Nève de Mévergnies¹, Ernst H W Koster^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
² Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.

Abstract

It is increasingly acknowledged that cognitive impairment can play an important role in depression vulnerability. Therefore, cognitive remediation strategies, and cognitive control training (CCT) procedures have gained attention in recent years as possible interventions for depression. Recent studies suggest a small to medium effect on indicators of depression vulnerability. Despite initial evidence for the efficacy and effectiveness of CCT, several central questions remain. In this paper we consider the key challenges for the clinical implementation of CCT, including exploration of (1) potential working mechanisms and related to this, moderators of training effects, (2) necessary conditions under which CCT could be optimally administered, such as dose requirements and training schedules, and (3) how CCT could interact with or augment existing treatments of depression. Revisiting the CCT literature, we also reflect upon the possibilities to evolve toward a stratified medicine approach, in which individual differences could be taken into account and used to optimize prevention of depression.

Keywords: cognitive control training; cognitive remediation; depression; prevention of depression; working memory training.

Publication types

Review