Universität zu Köln

Gawron, Lana ORCID: 0000-0003-2664-5280 (2022). Alcohol and Depression: Can This Connection be Explained by Cognitive Processes? PhD thesis, Universität zu Köln.

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Abstract

Depressive disorders and alcohol use disorder show a high comorbidity. Despite the numerous theoretical explanations for this comorbidity, the underlying mechanisms have received little empirical investigation. The aim of this dissertation was to find out whether cognitive processes, such as rumination, can provide a possible explanation for this comorbidity. Methods: In study 1, an experimental design was used to examine the direct influence of alcohol on emotional, (meta-)cognitive, and psychophysiological depression-specific processes in a population with clinical depression. For study 2, an online survey was conducted to assess the association between depression, rumination, alcohol consumption, and alcohol-related problems. Results: In study 1, rumination was found to be associated with worsening of certain depression-specific processes, but alcohol use was found to have no effect on these processes. In study 2, using structural equation modeling, significant associations were found between depressive symptomatology, rumination, alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems. However, the function of rumination in this context could not be clearly clarified. Conclusions: Rumination seems to be associated with an increase of depressive symptoms, especially with an intensification of the emotional experience, i.e. sadness. It is likely that alcohol is used to reduce this aversive experience rather than to directly affect cognitive processes. Given the novelty of the research approach (study 1) and the paucity of (correlative) studies on the underlying mechanisms of comorbidity (including study 2), further research in this area is needed. In particular, further studies on the direct effects of alcohol on depression-specific processes may represent a promising approach.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD thesis)
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Gawron, Lana lana.gawron@uni-koeln.de orcid.org/0000-0003-2664-5280 UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-621833
Date:	2022
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Human Sciences
Divisions:	Faculty of Human Sciences > Department Psychologie
Subjects:	Psychology
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language depression English rumination English alcohol English metacognition English
Date of oral exam:	10 February 2022
Referee:	Name Academic Title Gerlach, Alexander Prof. Ehrenthal, Johannes Jun.-Prof.
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/62183