# Transdiagnostic Neural Mechanisms Underlying Dimensions of Negative Affectivity in Depression and Anxiety

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2020 · $544,762

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
There is growing recognition that strict distinctions between clinical psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and
depression, on the one hand, and more stable dispositions to experience negative emotions (negative
affectivity), on the other, fail to capture the true nature of psychopathology. We argue that by examining
specific dimensional phenotypes that cut across depression and anxiety disorders, we will be better able to
identify the neurobiological processes that are specifically associated with an individual's distress and
dysfunction – a critical step for developing more effective, targeted treatments. Negative affectivity is a broad
dimension that underlies depression and anxiety and is associated with enormous public health consequences.
One of the specific facets of negative affectivity, excessive self-consciousness, may represent a dimensional
phenotype that is closely aligned with a specific pattern of dysfunction in neural mechanisms that can lead to
difficulties regulating emotional responses. Excessive self-consciousness refers to the tendency to feel shame,
humiliation, and inadequacy. Our preliminary data suggest that it is strongly associated with altered functioning
in self-related processing neural regions and in regions responsible for emotion regulation, over and above
acute psychiatric symptoms. Furthermore, our findings suggest that excessive self-consciousness is strongly
associated with specific types of real-world interpersonal problems. The primary goals of this project are to test
a novel model of neural dysfunction during emotion regulation associated with excessive self-consciousness
and to examine the real-world consequences of that dysfunction. To achieve these goals, 125 young adults
(18-25 years old) with at least mild symptoms of depression or anxiety will be recruited. In addition, 75
demographically matched, psychiatrically healthy individuals will be recruited to ensure that we capture the full
range for all of the dimensions of interest. Participants will complete clinical and neuroimaging assessments,
as well as 6- and 12-month follow-up assessments that will include weeklong daily diary protocols of real-world
functioning. The project will examine 1) whether excessive self-consciousness is associated with abnormal
functioning in self-related processing regions; 2) whether excessive self-consciousness is associated with
abnormalities in the functioning of the emotion regulation circuit; and 3) whether abnormalities in these neural
systems prospectively predict psychiatric symptoms and poorer interpersonal and work functioning 6 and 12
months later. The aims of the project match well with the strategic goals of the National Institute of Mental
Health, and the results of this study have the potential to describe specific neurobiological mechanisms
associated with excessive self-consciousness – a dimensional phenotype that cuts across anxiety and
depressive disorders. Future work will aim to develop p...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9912199
- **Project number:** 5R01MH112758-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Jay C Fournier
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $544,762
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-06-01 → 2021-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9912199

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9912199, Transdiagnostic Neural Mechanisms Underlying Dimensions of Negative Affectivity in Depression and Anxiety (5R01MH112758-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9912199. Licensed CC0.

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