Behavioral social support between remitted depressed patients with partners and strangers
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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.
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