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In This Issue

Complex systems approaching a tipping point typically experience a period called “critical slowing down,” in which the system’s resilience and recovery from perturbations slow prior to a change in state. To assess whether such critical slowdown precedes a shift between healthy and depressed emotional states, Ingrid van de Leemput et al. (pp. 87–92) analyzed studies in which volunteers recorded their emotions at random times over 5 or 6 days. The authors focused on reports provided by 535 emotionally healthy and 93 depressed volunteers that monitored four emotions: cheerful, content, sad, and anxious. For volunteers who experienced a change of emotional health after the study, whether into or out of depression, the authors report that previous positive or negative emotions better predicted future similar emotions than for volunteers whose emotional health did not change. Negative emotions appeared to be reinforced in persons progressing toward depression; likewise, positive emotions appeared to be reinforced in persons progressing out of depression. Emotional variance during the study was also high for volunteers approaching a change. The authors suggest that the trends in emotional correlation and variance are indicative of an increase in emotional inertia and critical slowdown leading to a tipping point. Such signs may serve as an early-warning system for the onset of depression, according to the authors. — P.G.