What factors predict discrepancies between self and observer ratings of depression?

https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-0327(94)90101-5Get rights and content

Abstract

This study used a matched clinician and self-rating scale, the Inventory for Depressive Symptomatology (IDS; Rush et al., 1986), in the assessment of 48 patients meeting DSM-III-R criteria for non-psychotic major depressive disorder. Patients generally rated their symptoms as more severe than the clinican, but differences between the self and clinican rating (the delta-IDS) were significantly correlated with non-endogenous depressive subtype, higher levels of neuroticism and dysfunctional attitudes, and lower self-esteem. Multiple linear regression analysis which controlled for severity of depression demonstrated that whilst neuroticism, dysfunctional attitudes and self-esteem accounted for 48.5% of the variance in delta-IDS, the variable accounting for most of the variance was low self-esteem (47.9%).

References (33)

  • M. Martin

    Neuroticism as a cognitive predisposition toward depression: a cognitive mechanism

    Personal. Individ. Differ.

    (1985)
  • P.McC. Miller et al.

    Self-esteem, life events and psychiatric disorder

    J. Affect. Disord.

    (1989)
  • American Psychiatric Association

    Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

    (1987)
  • J. Bailey et al.

    A comparison between the Hamilton rating scale and Beck inventory in the measurement of depression

    Br. J. Psychiatry

    (1976)
  • P. Bech

    Symptoms and assessment of depression

  • A.T. Beck et al.

    An inventory for measuring depression

    Arch. Gen. Psychiatry

    (1961)
  • A.T. Beck et al.

    Cognitive Therapy of Depression

    (1979)
  • A. Brittlebank et al.

    Autobiographical memory in depression: state or trait marker?

    Br. J. Psychiatry

    (1993)
  • G. Brown et al.

    Self-esteem and depression IV: effects on course and recovery

    Social Psychiatry Psychiatr. Epidemiol.

    (1990)
  • M.W. Carney et al.

    The diagnosis of depressive syndromes and the prediction of response to ECT

    Br. J. Psychiatry

    (1965)
  • B. Carroll et al.

    Depression rating scales: a critical review

    Arch. Gen. Psychiatry

    (1973)
  • B. Carroll et al.

    The Carroll rating scale for depression: development, reliability and validity

    Br. J. Psychiatry

    (1981)
  • J. Dent et al.

    Negative cognition and persistent depression

    J. Abnorm. Psychol.

    (1988)
  • C.F. Duggan et al.

    Does personality predict long-term outcome in depression?

    Br. J. Psychiatry

    (1990)
  • H.J. Eysenck et al.

    Manual of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire

    (1975)
  • M. Feinberg et al.

    The Carroll rating scale for depression: comparison with other rating instruments

    Br. J. Psychiatry

    (1981)
  • Cited by (75)

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text