A comparison of interpersonal scripts in clinically depressed versus nondepressed individuals

This study examined the role of interpersonal scripts in differentiating be tween clinically depressed and nondepressed individuals. Subjects were 21 i ndividuals diagnosed as having major depression and 21 matched controls. Na rratives about interpersonal interactions were coded for interpersonal scri pts by rating multiple components of a script (wishes, behaviors, and feeli ngs of self; behaviors and feelings of other) for multiple contents (based on an interpersonal circumplex model). The depressed group was characterize d by two antithetical scripts: in one script the self wishes to be and acts relying while feeling trusting and the other acts nurturing while feeling interested; in the other script the self wishes to be and acts distancing w hile feeling sad and the other acts neglecting while feeling apathetic. Imp lications of the findings for cognitive and interpersonal models of depress ion are discussed. (C) 1999 Academic Press.