Psychosocial correlates of clinical depression after psychiatric in-patient treatment: methodological issues and baseline differences between recovered and non-recovered patients.
General methodological and design issues in research on psychosocial outcome predictors of clinical depression are discussed, and the first stage of a study of discharged depressed in-patients is presented. It involved 115 recovered and 75 non-recovered such patients who were compared regarding stress factors, social support, personality and coping styles. While there were few differences between recovered and non-recovered patients with respect to stable personality traits, recovered patients were less likely to have had severe long-term life difficulties, and their coping style differed: it was characterized by more negative appraisals of stressful situations, greater problem avoidance, less palliative activities, and a lesser inclination to solicit social support. Whereas among women without partners, as well as men, non-recovery was also associated with less support from friends, in particular psychological-emotional support in crises, non-recovered women with partners had much more such support. The results are discussed with reference to the existing literature on outcome correlates of clinical depression.
Veiel
H O
HO
Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany.
Kühner
C
C
Brill
G
G
Ihle
W
W
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010553:Personality Development; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support