Patients' explanations for depression: a factor analytic study.
OBJECTIVE
Previous questionnaire studies have attempted to explore the factor structure of lay beliefs about the causes of depression. These studies have tended to either fail to sample the full range of possible causal explanations or extract too many factors, thereby producing complex solutions. The main objective of the present study was to obtain a more complete and robust factor structure of lay theories of depression while more adequately sampling from the full range of hypothesized causes of depression. A second objective of the study was to explore the relationship between respondents' explanations for depression and their perceptions of the helpfulness of different treatments received.


METHODS
A 77-item questionnaire comprising possible reasons for 'why a person might get depressed' was mailed out to members of a large self-help organization. Also included was a short questionnaire inviting respondents to note treatments received and their perceptions of the helpfulness of these treatments. Data from the 77-item questionnaire were subjected to a principal components analysis.


RESULTS
The reasons rated as most important causes of depression related to recent bereavement, imbalance in brain chemistry and having suffered sexual assault/abuse. The data were best described by a two-factor solution, with the first factor clearly representing stress and the second factor depressogenic beliefs, the latter corresponding to a cognitive-behavioural formulation of depression aetiology. The two scales thus derived did not, however, correspond substantially with rated helpfulness for different treatments received.


CONCLUSIONS
The factor structure obtained was in contrast to more complex models from previous studies, comprising two factors. It is likely to be more robust and meaningful. It accords with previous research on lay theories of depression, which highlight 'stress' as a key cause for depression. Possible limitations in the study are discussed, and it is suggested that using the questionnaire with more recently depressed people might yield clearer findings in relation to perceptions of treatment helpfulness.
Budd
Rick
R
Psychology and Counselling Directorate, Whitchurch Hospital, Cardiff, Wales, UK.
James
Darren
D
Hughes
Ian
I
D001294:Attitude to Health; D001601:Bereavement; D015984:Causality; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010361:Patients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D025341:Principal Component Analysis / Q000379:methods; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012742:Sex Offenses; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology