Background
Stressful life events are among the most reliable precipitants of major depressive
disorder; yet, not everyone exposed to stress develops depression. It has been hypothesized
that robust neural reactivity to reward and associated stable levels of positive affect
(PA) may protect against major depressive disorder in the context of environmental
adversity. However, little empirical data exist to confirm this postulation. Here,
we test the hypothesis that individuals with relatively low ventral striatum (VS)
reactivity to reward will show low PA levels in the context of recent life stress,
while those with relatively high VS reactivity will be protected against these potentially
depressogenic effects.
Methods
Differential VS reactivity to positive feedback was assessed using blood oxygen level-dependent
functional magnetic resonance imaging in a sample of 200 nonpatient young adults.
Recent life stress, current depressive symptoms, and PA were assessed via self-report.
Linear regression models were used to investigate the moderating effects of VS reactivity
on the relationship between recent stress and state PA across participants.
Results
Recent life stress interacted with VS reactivity to predict self-reported state PA,
such that higher levels of life stress were associated with lower PA for participants
with relatively low, but not for those with high, VS reactivity. These effects were
independent of age, gender, race/ethnicity, trait PA, and early childhood trauma.
Conclusions
The current results provide empirical evidence for the potentially protective role
of robust reward-related neural responsiveness against reductions in PA that may occur
in the wake of life stress and possibly vulnerability to depression precipitated by
stressful life events.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 26, 2012
Accepted:
March 16,
2012
Received in revised form:
February 28,
2012
Received:
October 4,
2011
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
