A recent study backs up earlier research showing that overthinking, or rumination, can be lessened through a treatment called Rumination-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (RF-CBT).
The study used fancy brain-scanning technology (fMRI) to see changes in how the brain connects when people overthink.
The researchers wanted to help teenagers, a time when brains are growing and habits are forming.
How is was discovered
They adapted RF-CBT, originally designed for adults with depression, to see if it could prevent depressive relapse in young people.
The study involved 76 teenagers aged 14-17 with a history of depression. Some got RF-CBT sessions, while others got standard treatment.
Those who received RF-CBT reported thinking less about negative stuff.
The brain scans also showed changes in how certain brain areas connected, suggesting that RF-CBT helps the brain break the habit of overthinking.
It might be helpful
The study's success is encouraging, and the researchers plan to explore RF-CBT further with more teens to improve mental health habits.
The research was supported by the National Institutes of Mental Health and the Huntsman Mental Health Institute.
The scientists dedicated their work to Kortni K. Meyers and others lost to depression.
