Depression and excessive reassurance-seeking

This article describes a program of research on excessive reassurance-seeki ng and its relation to depression. Relevant theory, central predictions, an d empirical work are summarized, and the research program's implications fo r depression science and clinical work are noted. We argue that excessive r eassurance-seeking (a) is implicated as a potential contributory cause of d epressive symptoms; (b) is involved in generating negative interpersonal ou tcomes, such as interpersonal disruptions and "contagious" depression; (c) relates to other theoretically important depression-related constructs in w ays that may broaden and enhance depression theory and science; and (d) has potential import for the treatment and prevention of depression. The artic le may be of interest to those studying the social and clinical psychology of depression, as well as those engaged in the psychotherapy of depressed p eople, and may inspire future theoretical, empirical and clinical work; wit h the ultimate aim of increasing understanding of and decreasing suffering from depression, a vexing (and increasing) human problem.