Mediating effect of self-evaluation of depressive symptoms on automatic thinking and psychosocial function of patients with depression in remission

Abstract

Objective To investigate the mediating effects of self-evaluation of depressive symptoms between psychosocial function and negative automatic thinking in patients with depression in remission. Methods The Hamilton depression scale (HAMD-17), generic quality of life inventory(GQOLI), Beck depression inventory(BDI) and automatic thoughts questionnaire(ATQ) were applied to 122 subjects who were patients with depression in remission. Results (1) There was significantly negative correlation between self-evaluation of depressive symptoms and physical function and psychological function and social function(r=-0.559, r=-0.435, r=-0.388, all P<0.01), and negative correlation between negative automatic thinking and physical function, psychological function and social function(r=-0.563, r=-0.449, r=-0.468, all P<0.01). (2)The score of physical function, psychological function and social function in the group with low self-evaluation of depressive symptoms was higher than those in the group with high self-evaluation of depressive symptoms (low group: 70.27±11.33, 69.54±11.53, 69.09±10.41; high group: 53.33±9.32, 57.24±13.80, 57.69±12.77), and the differences were statistically significant (t=7.40, 4.82, 4.48, P<0.01). (3)Negative automatic thinking had a significant negative effect on physical function (B=-0.17, P<0.01), which was affected by self-evaluation of depressive symptoms. The relationship between negative automatic thinking and psychological function was affected by self-evaluation of depressive symptoms. Conclusion Self-evaluation of depressive symptom plays a mediating role between negative automatic thinking and physical function, which also was a mediator in the relationship between negative automatic thinking and mental function. Key words: Depression; Remission; Self-evaluation of symptoms; Psychosocial function; Automatic thinking