Psychological Characteristics of Chronic Depression: A Longitudinal Cohort Study
Abstract
Background Few studies have investigated the importance of psychological characteristics for chronicity of depression. Knowledge about psychological differences between chronically depressed persons and nonchronically depressed persons may help to improve treatment of chronic depression. This is the first study to simultaneously compare in large samples various psychological characteristics between chronically depressed and nonchronically depressed adults. Method Baseline data were drawn from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA), an ongoing longitudinal cohort study aimed at examining the long-term course of depressive and anxiety disorders in different health care settings and phases of illness. Participants were aged 18 to 65 years at the baseline assessment in 2004-2007 and had a current diagnosis of DSM-IV major depressive disorder (N = 1,002). Chronicity of depression was defined as being depressed for 24 months or more in the past 4 to 5 years. The chronicity criterion was fulfilled by 31% (n = 312). The NEO Five-Factor Inventory measured the 5 personality domains, the Leiden Index of Depression Sensitivity-Revised was used to measure cognitive reactivity (eg, hopelessness, rumination), and the Mastery Scale measured external locus of control. Results Compared to the nonchronically depressed persons, the chronically depressed persons reported significantly higher levels of neuroticism (OR = 1.81; 95% CI, 1.55-2.12; P Conclusions Our findings suggest t…
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“Rumination has been found to predict MDD onset in young adults (Nolen-Hoeksema, Parker, & Larson, 1994); increased levels of depression (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2000); and transition to chronic, relapsing depression (Wiersma et al., 2010).”
Background
- Authors
- Wiersma, J. E., van Oppen, P., van Schaik, D. J. F., van der Does, A. J. W., Beekman, A. T. F., & Penninx, B. W. J. H.
- Affiliations
- Amsterdam Public Health (NL)
- GGZ inGeest (NL)
- Leiden University (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Wiersma, Jenneke E.
- Venue
- The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc
- Published
- 2011-03-15
- Volume
- 72
- Issue
- 03
- Pages
- 288-294
- ISSN
- 0160-6689 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2104670497
- Cited by
- 160
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 49 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 12.32
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Pure Amsterdam UMC (publishedVersion)
- Amsterdam UMC (VU Amsterdam) - Institutional Repository (publishedVersion)
- VU Research Portal (publishedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Leiden Repository (Leiden University) (submittedVersion)
- University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Keywords
- chronic depression, personality traits, neuroticism, extraversion, agreeableness, cognitive reactivity, hopelessness, rumination, external locus of control, major depressive disorder, aggression, risk aversion
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aggression, Analysis of Variance, Chronic Disease, Major Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Internal-External Control, Introversion, Psychological, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Personality, Personality Inventory, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Psychological Tests, Risk-Taking, Chi-Square Distribution, Young Adult
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