Assessing the cognitive regulation of emotion in depressed stroke patients

This study evaluated the psychometric properties of a simple scale for measuring positive interpersonal attitudes of depressed stroke patients, with regard to their cognitive limitations. Two versions of the Attitudes Towards Relationships Scale were developed and administered to depressed stroke (n = 48) and control rheumatic/orthopaedic (n = 45) patients during a study that investigated the relationship between mood state, interpersonal attitudes and psychological distress. Both versions produced homogeneous results and showed acceptable concurrent validity, test-retest reliability, internal consistency and measurement specificity. A principal component analysis produced a three-factor structure highlighting the importance of attitudes towards future interpersonal relationships. These results suggest that the Attitude Towards Relationships Scale may be a psychometrically sound measure that shows some potential as a therapeutic measure of progress in stroke and other comparable samples.