BACKGROUND: Beck's cognitive theory of depression has received little empirical support. AIMS: To test whether those with negative self-schemas were at risk of onset of depression. METHOD: Data were collected by postal questionnaire from 12,003 women recruited during early pregnancy; questionnaires included measures of depressive symptoms and negative self-schemas. Regular questionnaires were sent during pregnancy and following childbirth. RESULTS: Of 8540 women not depressed when recruited, 8.6% (95% CI 8.0-9.2) became depressed 14 weeks later. Those in the highest tertile for negative self-schema score were more likely to become depressed than those in the lowest tertile (odds ratio 3.04, 95% CI 2.48-3.73). The association remained after adjustment for baseline depressive symptoms and previous depression (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.27-2.02) and was of similar magnitude for onset 3 years later. CONCLUSIONS: Holding a negative self-schema is an independent risk factor for the onset of depression in women. This finding supports a key element of Beck's cognitive theory. Understanding more about how negative self-schemas arise should help inform preventive policies.
BACKGROUND:Beck's cognitive theory of depression has received little empirical support. AIMS: To test whether those with negative self-schemas were at risk of onset of depression. METHOD: Data were collected by postal questionnaire from 12,003 women recruited during early pregnancy; questionnaires included measures of depressive symptoms and negative self-schemas. Regular questionnaires were sent during pregnancy and following childbirth. RESULTS: Of 8540 women not depressed when recruited, 8.6% (95% CI 8.0-9.2) became depressed 14 weeks later. Those in the highest tertile for negative self-schema score were more likely to become depressed than those in the lowest tertile (odds ratio 3.04, 95% CI 2.48-3.73). The association remained after adjustment for baseline depressive symptoms and previous depression (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.27-2.02) and was of similar magnitude for onset 3 years later. CONCLUSIONS: Holding a negative self-schema is an independent risk factor for the onset of depression in women. This finding supports a key element of Beck's cognitive theory. Understanding more about how negative self-schemas arise should help inform preventive policies.
Authors: Paul J Mills; Laura Redwine; Kathleen Wilson; Meredith A Pung; Kelly Chinh; Barry H Greenberg; Ottar Lunde; Alan Maisel; Ajit Raisinghani; Alex Wood; Deepak Chopra Journal: Spiritual Clin Pract (Wash D C ) Date: 2015-03
Authors: Rebecca M Pearson; Charles Fernyhough; Richard Bentall; Jonathan Evans; Jon Heron; Carol Joinson; Alan L Stein; Glyn Lewis Journal: Am J Psychiatry Date: 2013-04 Impact factor: 18.112