The Depressive Experiences Questionnaire: validity and psychological correlates in a clinical sample

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• The Depressive Experiences Questionnaire (DEQ) is used to assess depressive subtypes.
• Previous research has utilized DEQ but its original and revised scoring systems require further validation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the original and revised scoring systems of the DEQ.
• To assess the construct validity of the DEQ's Dependent and Self-Critical subscales.
• To explore gender differences in depressive subtypes.

Main Methods:

• 103 clinically depressed inpatients completed the DEQ, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Hopelessness Scale, Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ), Rathus Assertiveness Schedule (RAS), and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI).
• Concurrent validity and factor analysis were used to compare scoring systems and assess subscale validity.
• Correlations between DEQ scales and other measures were examined, with a focus on gender differences.

Main Results:

• Both DEQ scoring systems showed good concurrent validity, but the revised system failed to adequately differentiate dependent and self-critical dimensions.
• The original DEQ scoring system revealed self-criticism positively correlated with depression severity, especially in males, while dependency did not.
• Factor analysis supported the dependent and self-critical dimensions.
• For males, self-criticism correlated with psychotic symptoms and hostility on the MMPI, whereas dependency did not; females did not show similar differential patterns.

Conclusions:

• The original DEQ scoring system appears more effective in distinguishing self-critical and dependent depressive subtypes.
• Findings suggest potential gender-specific clinical characteristics associated with dependent and self-critical depression.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate gender differences in depressive subtypes.