Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Psychology
Document Type
Dissertation
Abstract
Psychomotor retardation (PMR) and rumination are transdiagnostic constructs observed across mood and psychotic disorders. PMR involves slowing of movement, cognition, and speech, whereas rumination involves repetitive, negative, self-focused thought that may consume cognitive resources and disrupt goal-directed behavior. Although both constructs are clinically meaningful and theoretically relevant to cognitive control, their relationship has rarely been examined in daily life. The present study used speech-based ecological momentary assessment (EMA) data from the IMPACT-MH project to examine the concurrent associations, temporal dynamics, and predictive utility of rumination, PMR, and verbal memory in adults who experience hallucinations. Participants completed repeated smartphone assessments that included open-ended verbal diaries and an auditory story-recall task. Rumination was measured from the content of verbal diaries using an NLP based measure, whereas PMR was measured from the temporal properties of speech produced during story recall. Verbal memory was scored using Narrative and Detail recall components. Contrary to the resource-depletion account, within-person rumination did not predict poorer verbal memory and was not associated with PMR concurrently or prospectively. In contrast, greater speech-derived PMR was associated with poorer Narrative and Detail recall within person, with the clearest effects emerging for Narrative organization. EMA aggregates did not predict follow-up depression severity beyond baseline symptoms, although the combined indices added incremental prediction of follow-up hallucination severity. These findings suggest that speech-based assessment is most informative when task demand, behavioral signal, and construct are closely aligned.
Date
7-5-2026
Recommended Citation
Granrud, Ole Edvard, "Stuck in Thought, Slow to Act: Speech-Based Ecological Momentary Assessment of Rumination and Psychomotor Retardation" (2026). LSU Doctoral Dissertations. 7120.
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/7120
Committee Chair
Cohen, Alex S.
LSU Acknowledgement
1
LSU Accessibility Acknowledgment
1