Vulnerability to depression: reexamining state dependence and relative stability

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Psychopathology

Background:

• Dysfunctional attitudes are often considered state-dependent in depression.
• Previous research suggested attitudes change with treatment.
• The Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale (DAS) measures these attitudes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To reexamine the stability of dysfunctional attitudes during and after depression treatment.
• To investigate predictors of post-treatment dysfunctional attitudes.
• To test consistency with established vulnerability theories.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from the National Institute of Mental Health Treatment of Depression Collaborative Research Program.
• Calculation of mean DAS scores and test-retest correlations.
• Application of structural equation modeling.

Main Results:

• Mean DAS scores for Perfectionism, Need for Approval, and total DAS decreased after 16 weeks of treatment.
• Despite decreases, DAS variables demonstrated considerable relative stability.
• Initial dysfunctional attitudes and post-treatment depression significantly predicted post-treatment DAS scores.
• Relative stability increased during an 18-month follow-up.

Conclusions:

• Dysfunctional attitudes exhibit significant relative stability, challenging the notion of them being purely state-dependent.
• Findings support Beck's and Blatt's theories of psychological vulnerability to depression.
• Dysfunctional attitudes may represent a stable vulnerability factor rather than just a symptom of depression.