PATTERN INTEGRATIONS IN YOUNG DEPRESSED WOMEN .1.

The enduring patterns of interpersonal relations between young depress ed women and their significant others create a theater for early inter ventions. As noted by Hildegard Peplau, interpersonal relations includ e patterns that are organized around appraisals from significant other s, ultimately forming the internal sense of self-regard that is deeply disrupted in depression. Pattern integrations, or the ''fit'' of the woman and her significant others become maintained as a way of avoidin g anxiety and negative appraisals. Complementary, mutual, alternating, and antagonistic patterns have been identified by Peplau, and the rel ationship to anxiety, the maintenance of self-worth, and the therapeut ic use of these patterns by the nurse are explored. (C) 1996 by W.B. S aunders Company