A tendency to focus on the past plays a key role in increasing depressive symptoms among individuals with childhood trauma

Findings from the Journal of Psychiatric Research point to a negative focus on the past as a fundamental aspect of depression. The study found that childhood trauma was associated with elevated depressive symptoms, but only among those who showed a tendency to focus on the past over the present and future.

As expected, participants with depression showed a greater tendency toward a negative past perspective and a fatalistic present perspective than compared to participants without depression. They also showed a lower tendency toward positive past, and future perspectives.