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Distraction in neurotic and endogenous depression: an investigation of negative thinking in major depressive disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Melanie J. V. Fennell ,
John D. Teasdale ,
Simon Jones  and
Anita Damlé
Melanie J. V. Fennell*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, MRC Applied Psychology Unit, Cambridge, Fairmile Hospital, Wallingford and Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury
John D. Teasdale
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, MRC Applied Psychology Unit, Cambridge, Fairmile Hospital, Wallingford and Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury
Simon Jones
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, MRC Applied Psychology Unit, Cambridge, Fairmile Hospital, Wallingford and Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury
Anita Damlé
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, MRC Applied Psychology Unit, Cambridge, Fairmile Hospital, Wallingford and Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury
*
1Address for correspondence: Melanie J. V. Fennell, University Department of Psychiatry, The Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX.
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Synopsis

The effects on depressive thinking and depressed mood of a brief, standardized distraction procedure were examined. In low endogenous patients (scoring 3 or less on the Newcastle Diagnosis Scale (NDS)), distraction significantly reduced the frequency of depressing thoughts. Consistent with Beck's cognitive model of depression, these patients were significantly less depressed after distraction than after a control procedure. In high endogenous patients (scoring 4 or more on the NDS), distraction produced less marked reductions in frequency of depressing thoughts, and no significant change in depressed mood. It is suggested that the relationship between negative thinking and depressed mood differs in the two patient groups.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 17 , Issue 2 , May 1987 , pp. 441 - 452
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

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