Citation

Nam RJ, Lowry NJ, Lawrence OC, Novotny LJ, Cha CB. Curr. Opin. Psychol. 2024; 59: e101853.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2024, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.copsyc.2024.101853

PMID

39128387

Abstract

Episodic future thinking (EFT), the ability to imagine future autobiographical events, is both an everyday and clinically significant cognitive process. With a focus on depression and suicidality, here we discuss evidence connecting EFT with psychopathology. Emotional valence of imagined future events has emerged as the most widely established feature of EFT detected to date, with less positive EFT being associated with depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. This pattern may not be merely a byproduct of sadness or anhedonia. Promising directions for future research include clarifying the temporal association between EFT and clinical outcomes, investigating the potential benefits and drawbacks of positive EFT, and refining assessments for youth to measure EFT either preceding or soon after onset of psychopathology.

Language: en

Keywords

Depression; Suicide; Self-harm; Cognitive bias; Episodic future thinking