Mood regulation beliefs in depressed psychiatric inpatients: Examining affect, behavior, cognitive, and social strategies

Abstract

The present study was designed to evaluate patient expectations regarding their ability to manage negative emotional reactions. Strategies for managing negative emotional reactions were classified in terms of a focus on affect regulation, behavioral activation, cognitive restructuring, and social involvement. Depressed psychiatric inpatients (N=137) reported weak expectations regarding their ability to regulate their negative moods (M = 82.37, SD = 16.61). Depression severity was closely related to male patients’ expectations regarding their ability to control negative moods through affect regulation (r(44)=− 0.37, P<0.05), behavioral activation (r(44)=− 0.59, P< 0.01), cognitive restructuring (r(44)− 0.50, P<0.01), and social involvement (r(44)=− 0.33, P<0.05). Suicide risk was significantly related to male patients’ expectations regarding their ability to control negative moods. Similar results were observed for female patients. Recent suicide attempters, past attempters, and non-suicidal depressed inpatients reported similar mood regulation expectations (F(2,134)=0.46, ns). Therapy may help patients develop confidence in their ability to manage negative emotional reactions. It may be useful to assess patient expectations in order to guide therapy toward specific coping actions that may help them control their negative moods.