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Hopelessness and persistence of depression in an inpatient sample

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Abstract

Recent research indicates that hopelessness is a significant predictor of the persistence of depression in both community and outpatient depressed samples. To further assess the generality of these findings, the present study investigated whether hopelessness (measured by the Beck Hopelessness Scale) would predict persistence of depression (measured by the Beck Depression Inventory or BDI) in an inpatient sample undergoing multimodal treatments for depression. Upon admission (Time 1), 115 subjects with unipolar depression were administered the Beck Hopelessness Scale and BDI. Ninety-seven of these subjects responded to a second BDI at discharge (Time 2), and 50 returned a third BDI by mail approximately 6 months following discharge (Time 3). Hierarchical multiple-regression analyses indicated that degree of hopelessness at Time 1 significantly predicted severity of depression at Time 2, even after controlling for Time 1 BDI scores, sex, and length of hospital stay. This relationship, however, did not hold for the prediction of BDI-assessed depression severity at Time 3. These findings suggest the need for further research to clarify issues concerning the state—trait characteristics of hopelessness, factors influencing hopelessness persistence and change, and processes mediating relationships between hopelessness and depression persistence.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior (FG 2209), Medical College of Georgia, 30912-3800, Augusta, Georgia, USA

    Edward W. McCranie

  2. Medical College of Virginia, USA

    William T. Riley

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  1. Edward W. McCranie
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  2. William T. Riley
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Additional information

We thank Deborah Blanchard, Susan Reedy, and Gail Woods for their assistance in data collection.

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McCranie, E.W., Riley, W.T. Hopelessness and persistence of depression in an inpatient sample. Cogn Ther Res 16, 699–708 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01175408

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