@article{ref1,
title="Self-directed passive-aggressive behaviour as an essential component of depression: findings from two cross-sectional observational studies",
journal="BMC psychiatry",
year="2022",
author="Schanz, C. G. and Equit, M. and Schäfer, S. K. and Michael, T.",
volume="22",
number="1",
pages="e200-e200",
abstract="BACKGROUND: The self-control model of depression suggests depressive symptoms to derive from distorted self-monitoring, dysfunctional self-evaluation and reduced self-reward as well as increased self-punishment. Building on this model a relationship between self-directed passive-aggressive behaviour, that is, harmful inactivity, and depression has been assumed. This association has been supported by a recent study in an inpatient sample. However, it remains unclear if patients with depressive disorders report more self-directed passive-aggressive behaviour than patients without depressive disorders and if self-directed passive aggression mediates the associations between distorted self-monitoring and dysfunctional self-evaluation with depressive symptoms. <br><br>METHODS: Study 1 compared self-directed passive-aggressive behaviour levels between 220 psychotherapy outpatients with (n = 140; 67.9% female; M(age) = 40.0) and without (n = 80; 65.0% female; M(age) = 36.2) depressive disorders. Diagnoses were made based on the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. Study 2 examined self-directed passive-aggressive behaviour as a mediator of the relationship between distorted self-monitoring and dysfunctional self-evaluation and self-reported depressive symptoms in 200 undergraduate Psychology students. <br><br>RESULTS: Compared to outpatients without depressive disorders, outpatients with depressive disorder reported significantly more self-directed passive aggression (d = 0.51). Furthermore, Study 2 verified self-directed passive-aggressive behaviour as a partial mediator of the relationship between dysfunctional attitudes (ab(cs) = .22, 95%-CI:.14,.31), attributional style (ab(cs) = .20, 95%-CI:.13,.27), ruminative response style (ab(cs) = .15, 95%-CI:.09,.21) and depressive symptoms. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Self-directed passive-aggressive behaviour partially mediates the association between distorted self-monitoring and dysfunctional self-evaluation with depressive symptoms. Future longitudinal studies need to examine a potential causal relationship that would form a base to include interventions targeting self-directed passive-aggressive behaviour in prevention and treatment of depression. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Both studies were preregistered at the German Clinical Trials Register ( DRKS00014005 and DRKS00019020 ).<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1471-244X",
doi="10.1186/s12888-022-03850-1",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12888-022-03850-1"
}