Long-term posttreatment functioning among patients with unipolar depression: An integrative model

This study tested an integrative structural equation model of posttreatment functioning among 165 depressed patients followed for an average of 9 year s after the end of an episode of treatment. The model examined (a) the link between life change and psychosocial resource change and (b) the role of r esource change in mediating the relationship between life change and change in depression. An increase in the preponderance of negative over positive life events was associated with a decline in resources and an increase in d epressive symptoms. A decline in resources was associated with an increase in depressive symptoms. The association between changes in events and depre ssive symptoms was completely mediated through resource change. These findi ngs indicate that life stressors contribute to posttreatment depression thr ough an erosion of personal and social resources.