Depressogenic cognitive schemas: enduring beliefs or mood state artefacts?

Objective: The objective of this study was to review findings from a previo usly posited 'lock and key' hypothesis which challenge a number of assumpti ons about cognitive theories of depression. Method: A review of existing cognitive vulnerability theories is presented. Two recent studies employed to test the lock and key hypothesis are summar ized. The hypothesis is reviewed in light of other diathesis-stress models of cognitive vulnerability. Results: The identification of a depressed individual's core beliefs or cog nitive schemas is a difficult task, with perhaps unresolvable difficulties in disentangling any mood state determinant. Longitudinal assessment of ori ginally euthymic subjects appears the best method to investigate any cognit ive risk to depression and the significance of diathesis-stress models. Conclusions: Empirical evidence for or against the validity of cognitive vu lnerability theories is largely dependent upon the methodologies used to de tect cognitive styles, as well as the nature of the subject groups studied.