Cognitive Control Therapy as a Depression Treatment: a Review of the Literature

Abstract

Recent investigations have explored the link between depression and executive function (the ability to process and organise information in order to achieve a goal). The specific aspect of executive function that is linked to depression is executive control, which includes the ability to regulate cognitive processes such as emotion. Research has found that subjects with greater levels of executive control are more likely to be able to control their reactions to stressful events and are less likely to develop depressive symptoms. As a result of these findings, cognitive control training has been suggested as a possible new treatment for depression. Further research in this field would be highly beneficial for the development of new and effective treatments for depression.