A comparison of dependent and self-critically depressed hospitalized adolescents

One hundred ninety-four hospitalized adolescents were administered the Adol escent Depressive Experiences Questionnaire (DEQ-A). The DEQ-A factors (de pendency, self-criticism) correlated well with independent measures of depr ession, hopelessness, self-esteem, and suicide risk. After controlling for depression, self-criticism and dependency showed differential associations with hopelessness, violence potential, and impulsivity. A subgroup of 84 in patients identified as either highly self-critical or highly dependent base d on the DEQ-A was also compared for differences in personality and symptom atic behavior: Self-critical and dependent patients exhibited equally high levels of depression, hopelessness, suicidality, and low self-esteem. Few d ifferences were observed in personality or symptomatic behavior between the two groups. These findings, while extending previous research that relied on community samples of young adults, provide only mixed support for a dist inction between these two categories of depression.