Chronic and acute stress and the prediction of major depression in women.
BACKGROUND
This study explored the relatively neglected role of chronic stress in major depression, examining the independent contributions of co-occurring chronic and acute stress to depression, whether chronic stress predicts acute life events, and whether the two types of stress interact such that greater chronic stress confers greater sensitivity-or resistance-to the depressive effects of acute stressors.


METHODS
From a sample of 816 community women, those who had a major depression onset in the past 9 months and those without major depressive episodes (MDE) onset and with no history of current or recent dysthymic disorder were compared on interview-based measures of antecedent acute and chronic stress. Chronic stress interviews rated objective stress in multiple everyday role domains, and acute stress was evaluated with contextual threat interviews.


RESULTS
MDE onset was significantly associated with both chronic and acute stress; chronic stress was also associated with the occurrence of acute events, and there was a trend suggesting that increased acute stress is more strongly associated with depression in those with high versus low chronic stress.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest the importance of including assessment of chronic stress in fully understanding the extent and mechanisms of stress-depression relationships.
Hammen
Constance
C
Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095-1563, USA. hammen@psych.ucla.edu
Kim
Eunice Y
EY
Eberhart
Nicole K
NK
Brennan
Patricia A
PA
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008016:Life Change Events; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology