Early maladaptive schemas, depression severity, and risk factors for persistent depressive disorder: A cross-sectional study

• Published in: East Asian archives of psychiatry Vol. 29; no. 4; pp. 112 - 117
• Main Authors: Chen, K H, Tam, C W C, Chang, K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hong Kong Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists 01-12-2019; Hong Kong Academy of Medicine
• Subjects: Adult; Age; Bipolar disorder; Child & adolescent psychiatry; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression, Mental; Depressive Disorder, Major - diagnosis; Depressive Disorder, Major - psychology; Female; Humans; Male; Mental depression; Mental disorders; Middle Aged; Multivariate analysis; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales - statistics & numerical data; Psychology, Pathological; Psychopathology; Questionnaires; Risk Factors; Schema-focused cognitive therapy; Severity of Illness Index; Surveys and Questionnaires; Taiwan; Treatment; Taiwan; United States > US; Risk factors; Depressive disorder
• ISSN: 2078-9947; 2224-7041
• DOI: 10.12809/eaap1821

"Objective: To investigate associations of the five early maladaptive schemas (EMS) domains with depression severity by comparing patients with persistent depressive disorder (PDD), patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), and controls with no psychiatric disorders.
Methods: Patients with PDD (n = 30), patients with MDD (n = 24), and controls with no psychiatric disorders (n = 30) were recruited. Participants were assessed using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview 5.0 version (MINI), the Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition (BDI-II), and the Young Schema Questionnaire-3rd Edition Short Form (YSQ-S3).
Results: The five EMS domains (YSQ-S3 score) significantly correlated with depression severity (BDI-II score), with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.583 to 0.788. After controlling for age, education, and sex, the two best predictors of depression severity were domains 'over-vigilance and inhibition' and 'disconnection and rejection'. For domains of disconnection and rejection, impaired autonomy and performance, and over-vigilance and inhibition, the total YSQ-S3 score was significantly higher in the PDD group than both the MDD and control groups. For the domain of impaired limits, the total YSQ-S3 score was significantly higher in both the PDD and MDD groups than the control group.
Conclusion: All five EMS domains correlated significantly with depression severity. PDD and MDD differed in psychopathology. The EMS domains of disconnection and rejection, impaired autonomy and performance, and over-vigilance and inhibition may be specific risk factors for PDD."