Linda Teri

The Use of the Beck Depression Inventory with Adolescents.

Despite numerous theoretical and anecdotal reports of depression in adolescence, and the potential destructiveness of this disorder in this age group, little empirical work has been done. This study presents data on administration of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) to an adolescent sample (N= 568). Factor analysis and interitem and itemscale correlations of the BDI suggested that this questionnaire can be used with this population. The mean BDI score for the sample was slightly higher than that obtained in general population studies of younger children or adults. However, only 5% reported depression sufficiently high to be classified as severe, a figure similar to that of younger children but somewhat lower than that for adults. No significant differences across age were obtained, although significantly more females than males reported high depression scores.

Depression in adolescence: Its relationship to assertion and various aspects of self‐image

Despite numerous reports of adolescent depression, little empirical research exists. The study investigated the nature of adolescent depression by administering the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and a series of self‐report measures to 568 high school students. Findings consistent with the adult depression literature included significant positive relationships between depression and all measures of maladjustment. Subjects who reported more depression reported more overall maladjustment. A positive relationship between depression and assertion was also obtained which is consistent with the adult depression literature. Those reporting more depression reported more assertion. The most important predictor of depression was body and self‐image. These results are discussed as supporting the theory that depression exists in adolescence and while possessing certain unique characteristics it is highly similar to depression in adults.

Individual and group treatment of unipolar depression: Comparison of treatment outcome and identification of predictors of successful treatment outcome

Subjects (N=66) diagnosed as Major or Minor Depressive Disorder (per SADS-RDC) were randomly assigned to an individual or a group social-learning approach to the treatment of depression. Variables that predicted successful treatment outcomes as well as comparative treatment efficacy were investigated. No significant differences in depression outcome were obtained between the two treatments. Subjects in both conditions improved significantly pre to post and maintained their gains at one- and six-month follow-up. Two variables were identified as predictive of successful treatment outcome: they were initial level of depression and number of stressful life events. Combined, these variables accounted for 48% of the variance. Findings support using a group social-learning approach to depression and provide guidelines to identifying those clients most likely to improve from this approach. The need for future research to further facilitate successfully matching clients to treatment is discussed.

GROUP THERAPY FOR DEPRESSION: THE COPING WITH DEPRESSION COURSE

In this paper we describe the Coping with Depression course as it has been offered at the University of Oregon Depression Research Unit since 1979. The Coping with Depression course is a multimodal, psychoeducational group treatment for unipolar depression. The major vehicle for treatment is a course, i.e., an explicit educational experience; it is called a course because it teaches people techniques and strategies for coping with the problems that are assumed to be related to their depression. Specifically, the course addresses several target behaviors (social skills, thinking, pleasant activities, and relaxation) plus more general components hypothesized to be critical in successful cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression. The psychoeducational framework allows for active outreach; a wide variety of depressed persons who might not otherwise seek treatment are excellent candidates for such a course. The approach is often seen to be not as stigmatizing as traditional therapy, and the group format makes it more affordable. The Coping with Depression (CWD) course has been offered to over 300 depressed people. The efficacy of the course has been evaluated in a number of treatment-outcome studies [ 1 -3] , 1 and additional research is still in progress.2 3 It is quite clear that as a group, those who participate in this course show marked improvement, in terms of both self-reported depression level and interviewer-rated diagnosis, and that these changes are maintained for at least six months after treatment.

Effects of sex and sex-role style on clinical judgment

This study investigated the effects of client and therapist sex and sex-role style on clinical judgment. Therapists were asked to rate various aspects of functioning for bogus clinical descriptions which manipulated client characteristics. Four-way analyses of variance indicated that client sex-role style significantly affected ratings of current functioning, and client sex significantly affected ratings of expected functioning. These results appear to support an interpretation of sex bias in clinical judgments. Therapists negatively evaluated behaviors stereotypically female and expected females to be more amenable to intervention. Therapist sex was noninfluential. Therapist sex-role style was influential in certain areas of evaluation, but not in others.