Abstract

Vascular depression is a type of depression that has its onset later in life, and it has been associated with cardiovascular or metabolic diseases. Depression can be costly and associated with other health problems, which is why it becomes imperative to uncover the multiple mechanisms of action for depression symptomatology. A proposed mechanism of action for the emergence of depressive symptomatology is poor autobiographical memory specificity according to the CaR-FA-X model. However, it remains unclear whether this mechanism contributes somehow to the vascular depression specific type. The purpose of this research was to determine the potential relationship between the mechanisms proposed by the CaR-FA-X model and the presence of vascular depression, which has not been addressed by previous literature or research. Forty three older adults over the age of seventy from the Orlando area completed multiple measures including the Geriatric Depression Scale, Autobiographical Memory Test, and physiological measures. Results showed no support for a relationship between CaR-FA-X model elements and vascular depression; however, support was found for the relationship between cerebrovascular burden and depression as proposed by the vascular depression theory with rumination serving as a moderator. To our knowledge, this is the first time a study finds the moderating effect of rumination in the development of vascular depression. Further studies will need to address other potential mechanisms that increase risk for this specific type of depression as well as investigate the reasons under which, if any, autobiographical memory specificity might be related to vascular depression by using other measures that might be more sensitive to a non-clinical population.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2018

Semester

Spring

Advisor

Paulson, Daniel

Degree

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree Program

Psychology Clinical

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0007014

URL

http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0007014

Language

English

Release Date

May 2018

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Masters Thesis (Open Access)

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