Effect of thought-stopping on thoughts,mood and corrugator EMG in depressed patients

The immediate effects of thought-stopping applied to depressive thoughts were compared to those of a control procedure in a group of depressed psychiatric day-patients. Thought-stopping had only a weak effect on average in reducing the frequency of depressive thoughts, and no significant effects on depressed mood or corrugator EMG. A small significant effect on anxious mood appeared related to non-specific factors. The results raise the possibility that thought-stopping may have little specific effect in reducing the frequency of unwanted thoughts. Corrugator EMG was significantly related to the frequency of spontaneously occurring depressive thoughts both between and within subjects.