Researchers have long been intrigued by the connection between depression and risky decision-making, seeking to unravel whether individuals suffering from Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) exhibit different patterns of risk-taking behavior compared to their healthy counterparts. A team from the Southwest University in Chongqing, China, led by Mr. Tao Wang, along with his co-workers  Ms. Yujie Yuan, Ying He, Dr. Jiayi Zhu, Beitong Lin, Qiao Yin, and Peiru Peng, under the guidance of Associate Prof. Jianmin Zeng, conducted a meta-analysis to shed light on this complex relationship. Their findings, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, provide valuable insights into how depression influences decision-making processes.

Depression, particularly Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), is known to significantly impair cognitive functions, including decision-making. It is characterized by episodes of low mood, aversion to activity, and various other symptoms that affect an individual’s day-to-day functioning. Given the societal burden of depression, understanding its impact on risk-taking behavior is crucial for developing effective clinical interventions.

In their meta-analysis, the researchers examined numerous studies that used well-established decision-making tasks to evaluate risk-taking behavior in individuals with MDD. These tasks included the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART), the Cambridge Gambling Task (CGT), and the Game of Dice Task (GDT). By aggregating data from these studies, the team aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of how MDD affects risky decision-making.

The analysis revealed some intriguing findings. In the Iowa Gambling Task, individuals with MDD were found to select more disadvantageous decks compared to healthy controls (HC), indicating a higher propensity for risk, supported by a medium effect size. Conversely, in the Balloon Analogue Risk Task, individuals with MDD made fewer pumps on the balloon, suggesting that MDD patients may be more averse to risks. The possible reason for this phenomenon may be attributed to structural differences between IGT and BART. Specific reasons warrant future investigation.

Interestingly, no significant differences were observed between MDD patients and healthy controls in the Cambridge Gambling Task and the Game of Dice Task. These results imply that the impact of MDD on risk-taking behavior might be task-specific, influenced by the nature of the decision-making process involved in each task.

The meta-analysis also explored the role of demographic factors, such as age and gender, in modulating the relationship between MDD and risky decision-making. The subgroup analysis revealed significant differences in effect size (the MDD-HC contrast) among various age groups within the Iowa Gambling Task and the Balloon Analogue Risk Task. Younger individuals exhibited larger effect sizes, while older participants did the oppposite.These age-related differences underscore the importance of considering demographic factors when studying the cognitive effects of depression.

Dr. Zeng, emphasized the practical implications of these findings. “Understanding the nuanced ways in which depression affects decision-making can inform targeted interventions to help patients manage their condition more effectively,” he said. By identifying specific patterns of risk-taking behavior associated with MDD, clinicians can tailor their therapeutic approaches to better address the cognitive deficits linked to depression.

In conclusion, Dr. Zeng and colleagues’ meta-analysis provides a detailed examination of the intricate relationship between depression and risky decision-making. It underscores the variability in risk-taking behavior among individuals with MDD, depending on the nature of the decision-making task and demographic factors. These insights pave the way for more nuanced and effective clinical interventions aimed at mitigating the cognitive impairments associated with depression.

Journal Reference

Wang, T., Zeng, J., Yuan, Y., He, Y., Zhu, J., Lin, B., Yin, Q., & Peng, P. (2024). Exploring the complex relationship between depression and risky decision-making: A meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadr.2024.100771

About the Authors

Jianmin Zeng is an associate professor at Faculty of Psychology at Southwest University. He mainly study economic and social decision making from perspectives of cognition, neuroscience and genetics. He has published a lot of papers in international journals, including prestige journals like Psychology and Marketing, Journal of Neurology, Brain Communications, Judgment and Decision Making. Among other academic contributions, he and his team have found several new decision phenomena like final step effect, interval anchoring effect, giver-receiver discrepancy in decisions between probabilistic and regular gifts.

Wang Tao is a graduate student at Faculty of Psychology at Southwest University. His research interests are primarily focused on decision-making behaviors, especially the distinctive decision-making processes of individuals with mental illnesses. Wang is particularly interested in the neural mechanisms underlying decision-making and is committed to employing methods like meta-analysis to resolve existing contradictions in the field.