P eople who are hostile and aggressive, have low levels of dependency on other people or report lower levels of satisfaction from recreational activities are at a higher risk for recurrent bouts of major depression, finds a University of Washington study. In the study, Jackie Gollan, PhD, a clinical psychology intern at Brown University Medical School, followed for two years 78 patients who had recovered from major depression. Participants filled out several questionnaires and self-report surveys to measure their depression, dysfunctional attitudes and pleasant activities. They completed the assessments at the beginning and end of their treatment and every six months during the two-year study. Their personality types were also measured before and after treatment.
Many people respond to cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy for depression.
However, treatments for depression should address factors beyond depressed mood, like personality, if we are to help individuals stay well. For instance, the study found that individuals who depend little on others were more likely to relapse. People who showed aggressiveness at the end of treatment by being hostile and distrusting toward others also were more likely to have another bout of depression, the study found. The reason, Gollan speculates, is that they may not make friends easily and therefore have fewer social supports. People who reported lower levels of pleasure from their recreational activities, such as going to the movies, exercising or visiting friends, also were more likely to experience repeat depression, according to the study.