WCP 2025

Introduction. Overgeneral autobiographical memory (OGM) refers to the lack of specific details when individuals recall their own experiences. Rumination refers to the concentration of attention on one's own emotional state without considering how to solve problems. both OGM and rumination play significant roles in the onset and maintenance of depression.The eye movement adjustment technology (EMAT) with eye closed refers to a technology where, in a state of closed eyes, the eyes are guided by the intention to move back and forth in a specific direction. The technique has been applied to alleviate symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and insomnia. However, there is currently no research on the effect of both OGM and rumination in depressed patients.
Object:.This study aims to explore whether the technique can improve the levels of OGM and rumination in depressed patients.
Methods: 60 depressed patients meeting the criteria of DSM-5 for major depressive disorder were randomly divided into experimental group and control group, each group of 30 patients.The experimental group received combination EMAT（2 times per week） and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for 4 weeks, the control group received SSRIs therapy for 4 weeks. Before and after the experiment, all the patients accept the HAMD、the autobiographical memory test（AMT）and the rumination response scale(RRS) test respectively.
Results ①In the experimental group, the total scores of HAMD、the negative OGM and RRS scores were reduceded significantly at the after of experiment than the before of experiment（P﹤0.05）; ②In the control group, the total scores of HAMD and RRS were reduceded significantly at the after of experiment than the before of experiment（P﹤0.05）, but the positive OGM,the negative OGM scores were not reduceded significantly（P＞0.05）; ③After the experiment, the scores of negative OGM and RRS in the experimental group were decreased significantly than those in the control group respectively(P﹤0.05).
Conclusions The EMAT may decrease the negative OGM and rumination for depressed patients.In the future, there is a need to explore the neural mechanisms underlying the effects of EMAT on OGM and rumination in depressed patients.