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Behavioral social support between remitted depressed patients with partners and strangers
1University of Maastricht, Faculties of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Medical, Clinical and Experimental Psychology, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands. bill.hale@dep.unimaas.nl
Background:
Social support is associated with depression outcome and is effected by observable behaviors that express involvement.
Methods:
Eleven remitted depressed patients were studied during a social interaction with their partner and a similar interaction with a stranger, matched on the sex and age of the partner.
Results:
The patient-partner interaction displayed lower levels of involvement as compared to the patient-stranger interaction despite successful treatment for depression.
Conclusion:
It is suggested that the findings are reflective of the continuing depressogenic process.
Limitations:
A healthy control group for the patient-partner group was not employed.
Clinical Relevance:
Behavioral interactions between patients and partners may require as much attention during treatment as depressive symptomology alone.