The personal nature of depression: Assessing the operation of self-schema in depression

The operation of the self-schema in depression is investigated using a main stream measure of personality (NEO PI-R) that depressed participants comple te on two separate occasions. On the first occasion depressed participants provide a view of themselves when depressed (depressed view of self: DVS). On the second occasion depressed participants are asked to disregard their symptoms and provide a view of themselves prior to the onset of depression (imagined premorbid view of self: IPVS). Results indicate depressed partici pants provide premorbid descriptions of themselves that are significantly d ifferent from their present (depressed) self-view. The two views of self (D VS versus IPVS) are compared to peer descriptions provided by significant o thers (appraisers). Whereas the depressed views of self are congruent with appraisals provided by significant others, the imagined premorbid views of self are not. Results are discussed in line with cognitive theories of stat e-trait vulnerability and mood-state dependence. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wi ley & Sons, Ltd.