HOPELESSNESS DEPRESSION IN DEPRESSED INPATIENT ADOLESCENTS

The hopelessness theory of depression hypothesizes the existence of a hopelessness subtype of depression, characterized by its specific caus e, symptoms, course, therapy, and prevention. Data from depressed inpa tient adolescents (N = 160) were used to evaluate (a) the relation bet ween hopelessness and the hypothesized symptoms of hopelessness depres sion; and (b) the latent structure of the relation between hopelessnes s and the symptoms of hopelessness depression, to test for a hopelessn ess depression taxon (i.e., subtype). Results suggest that hopelessnes s was related to the hypothesized symptoms of hopelessness depression, treated singly and in combination. However results from the applicati on of Meehl and Yonce's (1994) MAMBAC taxometric analytic procedure, u sing hopelessness and the symptoms of hopelessness depression as taxon ic indicators, did not support the existence of hopelessness depressio n latent taxon. These results suggest that hopelessness depression may best be conceptualized as a dimension or continuum versus a category or subtype.