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Published on: May 19, 2015
Depression and Identity: Are Self-Constructions Negative or Conflictual?
Adrián Montesano1,2, Guillem Feixas1, Franz Caspar3
1Department of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatments, Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelona, Spain.
Cognitive conflicts, known as implicative dilemmas, are common in depression. This study found these conflicts, alongside negative self-views, are relevant to depression severity and functioning.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Negative self-views are established vulnerability markers for depression.
- Recent research highlights implicative dilemmas (cognitive conflicts) as prevalent in depression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the relevance of cognitive conflicts compared to negative self-views in major depression.
- To explore the relationship between self-ideal discrepancy, implicative dilemmas, and depression severity.
Main Methods:
- 161 patients with major depression and 110 controls were assessed.
- Evaluated negative self-construing (self-ideal discrepancy) and implicative dilemmas.
- Measured symptom severity and global functioning.
Main Results:
- The clinical group showed a pattern of mixed positive/negative self-descriptions with high conflict rates.
- Regression analysis supported the role of cognitive conflicts in symptom severity and global functioning.
- Self-ideal discrepancy was a stronger predictor of group membership (depression vs. control).
Conclusions:
- Cognitive conflicts (implicative dilemmas) complement the theory of negative self-views in depression.
- Findings suggest clinical implications for developing targeted interventions for depression.
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