Beliefs about depression and anti-depressive behaviour: relationship to depressed mood and predisposition to mania in non-patients

This study reports the development of a self-report measure to assess beliefs about and frequency of antidepressive behaviour. This study tests the hypothesis that people predisposed to depression and mania will be associated with higher levels of unhelpful beliefs about anti-depressive behaviour, sociotropy and autonomy, and higher levels of dysfunctional antidepressive behaviour. Non-clinical participants (112) were asked to complete questionnaires assessing beliefs about and frequency of anti-depressive behaviour, predisposition to mania, depression, sociotropy and autonomy. The results showed that three empirically distinct subscales measuring the beliefs people hold about how to avoid depression can be identified reliably. The questionnaire assessing frequency of antidepressive behaviour also had three subscales. The scales possessed acceptable internal consistency and were moderately stable over a 4–6 week period. Consistent with predictions, it was found that sociotropy, autonomy and beliefs about antidepressive behaviour were significantly associated with depression. Autonomy was found to predict predisposition to mania, and those with high vulnerability to mania scored significantly higher on measures of autonomy, sociotropy and frequency of active coping than those of lowest vulnerability. The theoretical and clinical implications of the findings are discussed. # 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.