SHAME, EARLY ABUSE, AND COURSE OF DEPRESSION IN A CLINICAL-SAMPLE - APRELIMINARY-STUDY

This study of 35 depressed patients was designed to replicate findings from a community sample of a relationship between childhood abuse and bodily shame, and bodily shame and chronic or recurrent depression. I n addition, we investigated whether characterological and behavioural shame would also be related to early abuse and depression course. The relation between bodily shame and childhood abuse was replicated. When the other types of shame were considered, bodily shame was the most p owerful correlate of early abuse, with behavioural shame showing no re lationship. However, all three types of shame appeared to be related t o chronic or recurrent course of depression.