INS NYC 2024 Program

Poster	Poster Session 05 Program Schedule 02/15/2024 02:30 pm - 03:45 pm Room: Majestic Complex (Posters 61-120) Poster Session 05: Neuropsychiatry \| Addiction/Dependence \| Stress/Coping \| Emotional/Social Processes Final Abstract #97 Affective Bias Does Not Mediate the Relationship Between Depression and Symptom Report on Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS) Garrett Thomas, Penn State University, University Park, United States Megan Bradson, Penn State University, University Park, United States McKenna Sakamoto, Penn State University, University Park, United States Katherine Balay, Penn State University, University Park, United States Peter Arnett, Penn State University, University Park, United States Category: Mood and Anxiety Disorders Keyword 1: depression Keyword 2: symptom validity Objective: Previous research has shown that depression is associated with greater self-reported symptom scores on the Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS). This said, other research has found that depression is associated with negative affective bias which may skew a person’s interpretation of their symptoms and functioning. In other words, a strong negative bias is likely associated with a more negative worldview and a tendency to negatively interpret one’s circumstances, including symptomatology and cognition. Therefore, this study sought to examine whether negative affective bias explains, at least in part, the relationship between depression and elevated symptom reporting. We predicted that negative affective bias would fully mediate relationship between depression and symptom report, such that depression leads to negative affective bias which in turn leads to greater symptom report. Participants and Methods: 634 collegiate athletes (F=158) completed a comprehensive neuropsychological battery including self-reported symptom measures. The Beck Depression Inventory-Fast Screen was used to measure depression, and the PCSS was used to quantify symptom reporting. Depression was examined dichotomously (depressed/non-depressed) using a cutoff of ≥ 3 which is consistent with previous work. Affective bias was examined using the ratio of negative words recalled to total words recalled on the Affective Word List (AWL), with scores greater than 0.5 indicating stronger negative bias. A mediation analysis, with depression as the independent variable, affective bias as the mediator, and PCSS total score as the outcome variable was conducted. The Baron and Kenny approach for testing mediation was applied using the SPSS PROCESS macro, with 5,000 bootstrap samples and 95% confidence interval. Results: Depression was significantly associated with greater total PCSS scores, indicating more reported symptomatology (ß = 5.32, p < .001), and more negative affective bias (ß = 0.03, p < .001). However, affective bias was not significantly associated with total PCSS scores (ß = -1.78, p = .78). Thus, step three of Baron and Kenny approach for testing mediation failed, meaning that causation could not be established, and the mediation was discontinued. Conclusions: Depression was associated with greater symptom reporting and more negative affective bias, but affective bias was not associated with symptom report scores after controlling for depression. Thus, the relationship between depression and symptom reporting cannot be explained by negative affective bias. These findings give further legitimacy to the symptoms reported by athletes with depression and suggest that symptom reporting is not elevated solely due to a more negative outlook (i.e., negative bias). This further suggests that the symptoms experienced by athletes with depression should be taken seriously and intervened upon where appropriate. Lastly, these findings highlight the importance of screening for depression at baseline and collecting baseline data in order to make more accurate and individualized comparisons should the athlete sustain future concussion.

Poster

02/15/2024
02:30 pm - 03:45 pm
Room: Majestic Complex (Posters 61-120)

Poster Session 05: Neuropsychiatry | Addiction/Dependence | Stress/Coping | Emotional/Social Processes

Final Abstract #97

Affective Bias Does Not Mediate the Relationship Between Depression and Symptom Report on Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS)

Garrett Thomas, Penn State University, University Park, United States
Megan Bradson, Penn State University, University Park, United States
McKenna Sakamoto, Penn State University, University Park, United States
Katherine Balay, Penn State University, University Park, United States
Peter Arnett, Penn State University, University Park, United States

Category: Mood and Anxiety Disorders

Keyword 1: depression
Keyword 2: symptom validity

Objective:

Previous research has shown that depression is associated with greater self-reported symptom scores on the Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS). This said, other research has found that depression is associated with negative affective bias which may skew a person’s interpretation of their symptoms and functioning. In other words, a strong negative bias is likely associated with a more negative worldview and a tendency to negatively interpret one’s circumstances, including symptomatology and cognition. Therefore, this study sought to examine whether negative affective bias explains, at least in part, the relationship between depression and elevated symptom reporting. We predicted that negative affective bias would fully mediate relationship between depression and symptom report, such that depression leads to negative affective bias which in turn leads to greater symptom report.

Participants and Methods:

634 collegiate athletes (F=158) completed a comprehensive neuropsychological battery including self-reported symptom measures. The Beck Depression Inventory-Fast Screen was used to measure depression, and the PCSS was used to quantify symptom reporting. Depression was examined dichotomously (depressed/non-depressed) using a cutoff of ≥ 3 which is consistent with previous work. Affective bias was examined using the ratio of negative words recalled to total words recalled on the Affective Word List (AWL), with scores greater than 0.5 indicating stronger negative bias. A mediation analysis, with depression as the independent variable, affective bias as the mediator, and PCSS total score as the outcome variable was conducted. The Baron and Kenny approach for testing mediation was applied using the SPSS PROCESS macro, with 5,000 bootstrap samples and 95% confidence interval.

Results:

Depression was significantly associated with greater total PCSS scores, indicating more reported symptomatology (ß = 5.32, p < .001), and more negative affective bias (ß = 0.03, p < .001). However, affective bias was not significantly associated with total PCSS scores (ß = -1.78, p = .78). Thus, step three of Baron and Kenny approach for testing mediation failed, meaning that causation could not be established, and the mediation was discontinued.

Conclusions:

Depression was associated with greater symptom reporting and more negative affective bias, but affective bias was not associated with symptom report scores after controlling for depression. Thus, the relationship between depression and symptom reporting cannot be explained by negative affective bias. These findings give further legitimacy to the symptoms reported by athletes with depression and suggest that symptom reporting is not elevated solely due to a more negative outlook (i.e., negative bias). This further suggests that the symptoms experienced by athletes with depression should be taken seriously and intervened upon where appropriate. Lastly, these findings highlight the importance of screening for depression at baseline and collecting baseline data in order to make more accurate and individualized comparisons should the athlete sustain future concussion.