Constant Negative Thinking can Lead to Suicidal Thoughts

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Highlights:

• Among youngsters, suicide is the second most common cause of death
• A recent study shows that repetitive thinking while in a low mood is related to suicidal thoughts in teens with depression
• Seeking professional help can prevent suicide

Suicide is one of the most preventable causes of death globally. More than 800,000 have lost their lives to suicide worldwide.

Major depressive disorder carries one of the highest risks of suicide, so better understanding the mechanisms behind this risk is imperative.

‘A new study shows that a tendency towards repetitive, fixed thinking during low mood has been related to suicidal thoughts among adolescents with depression’

In a recent study, researchers at the University of Birmingham in collaboration with researchers from the University of Cambridge, Leiden University, University of Melbourne and Yale Medical School examined three different risk factors thought to be linked to suicidal ideation, which is suicidal thoughts among young people with major depressive disorder (1^✔).

The researchers looked at repetitive negative thinking - or cognitive rumination, which basically means structural changes in specific regions of the brain; and recent stress. The research was published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.

How Suicidal Thoughts Affect the Brain

The scientists used data from an existing clinical trial (MR-IMPACT), set up to investigate major depressive disorders among adolescents. The aim was to test theories that suicidal thoughts are linked to functional changes in specific regions of the brain, which are also linked to repetitive negative thinking, or cognitive rumination.

Additionally, recent stressful experiences during childhood are thought to shape brain development and have been linked to structural brain alterations thought to be associated with suicidal ideation.

The links between cognitive rumination and its underpinning brain structure have not previously been studied in relation to suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young people with major depressive disorders.

Excessive Rumination can Lead to Suicidal Thoughts

The study includes data from 67 male and female participants with an average age of 16. All the participants had a diagnosis of major depressive disorder. According to the findings, excessive rumination is a predictor of greater severity of suicide ideation in youngsters with major depressive disorder.

Researchers could not find any significant links between recent stresses and suicidal thoughts, or between the lower surface area in the brain regions studied and suicidal thoughts - although recent studies have linked brain surface area, rumination and recent stress.

Lead researcher, Dr. Maria Dauvermann, of the School of Psychology at the University of Birmingham said: "We found evidence that increased levels of rumination predicted increased levels of suicidal thoughts. This was the most significant finding in the study and - although only a preliminary finding - it provides a promising benchmark from which to investigate this area further and could lead to new treatment methods for young people with major depressive disorders."

What is Rumination and Why Does it Matter?

Rumination involves repetitive thinking or dwelling on negative feelings and distress and their causes and consequences. The repetitive, negative aspect of rumination can contribute to the development of depression or anxiety and can worsen existing conditions (2^✔).

When a person who is in a depressed mood ruminates, they are more likely to remember more negative things that happened to them in the past, they interpret situations in their current lives more negatively, and they are more hopeless about the future. The preoccupation with problems also makes it difficult to move beyond to allow for a focus on problem-solving. Even in people without depression or anxiety, rumination can contribute to negative emotions. This can become a cycle where the more a person ruminates, the worse they feel, which then contributes to more rumination (3^✔).

How Can I Stop the Cycle of Rumination

• Distract Yourself: Distracting yourself with things to do will interrupt the negative thinking and focus on more positive memories.
• Recall Times You have Prevailed: Try to deliberately think of times when things worked out even with challenges. Take the help of family or friends in remembering past positive experiences, at times when things turned out well. This can help shift your thinking down a different path.
• Take a Walk: Physical activity and a change in environment, especially to a place that has positive associations for you, can help.
• Break Down Problems into Chunks: Try to separate different problems or break down larger problems into smaller parts. Tackle one issue at a time. Make a step-by-step plan, and be as specific as possible. Write it down. Then begin to move forward, taking action one step at a time.
• Form a Support System: It's crucial to have friends and family members you can call on for help when anything goes wrong or you're having a difficult day. These unique folks will likely divert you from your brooding thoughts while also boosting your self-esteem.
• Don't be Ashamed to Ask for Help: Seeking therapy might be the best option if you feel like nothing else is helping. A therapist is trained to handle these kinds of situations. There is no shame in seeking help and taking care of yourself.

Reference:

1. Elevated cognitive rumination and adverse life events are associated with lower cortical surface area and suicidal ideation in adolescents with major depressive disorder - (https:pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36584707/)
2. Rumination: A Cycle of Negative Thinking - (https:www.psychiatry.org/News-room/APA-Blogs/Rumination-A-Cycle-of-Negative-Thinking)
3. Getting Out of Rumination: Comparison of Three Brief Interventions in a Sample of Youth - (https:www.researchgate.net/publication/224820513_Getting_Out_of_Rumination_Comparison_of_Three_Brief_Interventions_in_a_Sample_of_Youth)

Source: Medindia

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