Affiliations: [a] Institute of Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Heidelberg, Germany | [b] Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany | [c] Neuro-oncology Department, University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Rosalux Falquez, Institute of Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Heidelberg, Hauptstrasse 47-51, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany. Tel.: +49 6221 547748; Fax: +49 6221 547348; [email protected]
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Previous investigations have demonstrated the relationship between inhibitory deficits and maladaptive emotion regulation. Although several neuropsychological studies show that frontal lobe damage can lead to extreme inhibition impairments, there have been no investigations regarding the influence of frontal lobe damage and related inhibition impairments on the use of maladaptive strategies.
OBJECTIVE: The goal of the current study was to examine the impact of executive functions impairments due to frontal lobe damage on cognitive emotion regulation.
METHODS: Fifteen patients with frontal lobe damage were compared to twenty-two healthy controls on their reported use of maladaptive strategies. The effect of behavioral inhibition deficits among the frontal lobe damage group was examined.
RESULTS: Patients reflected a heightened use of maladaptive strategies compared to healthy controls, significantly mediated by Go/NoGo task errors, which are an indicator for response inhibition deficits.
CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that a heightened use of maladaptive strategies by patients relies to a strong extent on their impaired impulse control, highlighting the complex interplay between executive functions and emotional regulation.
