Yvonne Gómez Maquet1, José David Ángel2, Catalina Cañizares3, María Claudia Lattig4, Diana María Agudelo5, Álvaro Arenas6, Eugenio Ferro7. 1. Departamento de Psicología, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia. Electronic address: yvgomez@uniandes.edu.co. 2. Psicólogo clínico, Bogotá, Colombia. 3. Facultad de Educación, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia. 4. Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia. 5. Departamento de Psicología, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia. 6. Hermanas Hospitalarias del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, Clínica La Inmaculada, Bogotá, Colombia. 7. Clínica Montserrat, Instituto Colombiano del Sistema Nervioso, Bogotá, Colombia.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a multifactorial disease in which, due to the interaction of several variables, the vulnerability of suffering from it increases. Several models, such as the diathesis-stress model, have explained these interactions. However, experiencing stressful events does not always lead to the development of MDD, and the attribution and appraisal of stressful events contributing to further development of depression symptoms has been considered as a possible explanation. OBJECTIVE: To determinate the association and the predictive power of the frequency and appraisal of stressful life events to predict MDD symptomatology. METHODS: Case-control study with 120 psychiatric patients and 120 people from the general population. A structured clinical interview and the life events questionnaire (Sandín and Chorcot) were used to evaluate the sample. The data were analysed with non-parametric tests and binary logistic regression. RESULTS: The psychiatric patients reported significantly higher levels of negative affect, frequency of stressful life events, perceived stress, negative appraisal of the situation and lack of perceived control. The binary logistic regression model indicated that poor perception of control of the stressful event is the most determining factor, followed by negative evaluation of the situation. CONCLUSIONS: The attributions that are made regarding a stressful event are variables that predict MDD, specifically the assessment of the perceived control over the situation. These results concur with the aetiological models of MDD, such as the cognitive diathesis-stress model.
INTRODUCTION: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a multifactorial disease in which, due to the interaction of several variables, the vulnerability of suffering from it increases. Several models, such as the diathesis-stress model, have explained these interactions. However, experiencing stressful events does not always lead to the development of MDD, and the attribution and appraisal of stressful events contributing to further development of depression symptoms has been considered as a possible explanation. OBJECTIVE: To determinate the association and the predictive power of the frequency and appraisal of stressful life events to predict MDD symptomatology. METHODS: Case-control study with 120 psychiatricpatients and 120 people from the general population. A structured clinical interview and the life events questionnaire (Sandín and Chorcot) were used to evaluate the sample. The data were analysed with non-parametric tests and binary logistic regression. RESULTS: The psychiatricpatients reported significantly higher levels of negative affect, frequency of stressful life events, perceived stress, negative appraisal of the situation and lack of perceived control. The binary logistic regression model indicated that poor perception of control of the stressful event is the most determining factor, followed by negative evaluation of the situation. CONCLUSIONS: The attributions that are made regarding a stressful event are variables that predict MDD, specifically the assessment of the perceived control over the situation. These results concur with the aetiological models of MDD, such as the cognitive diathesis-stress model.