Early maladaptive schemas in chronically depressed patients: A preliminary investigation

Abstract

Background Schema therapy has been proposed as a potentially effective treatment for chronic depression. However, little is known about early maladaptive schemas (EMSs), a key concept in schema therapy, in relation to chronic depression or chronic depression with comorbid personality pathology. The aim of the present study was to compare EMSs between currently chronically depressed patients with comorbid cluster C personality disorder (CDCPD), currently chronically depressed patients (CD), and patients remitted from chronic depression (CDR). Methods Based on data from a naturalistic follow‐up study on psychiatric outpatients with major depressive disorder, three groups were formed according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders‐IV: CDCPD (n = 15), CD (n = 23), and CDR (n = 13). Groups were compared in terms of background information and measurements for depression (Beck Depression Inventory) and EMSs (Young Schema Questionnaire). Results Patients with CDCPD and CD did not differ in terms of background variables or the severity of depressive symptoms, but patients with CDCPD were more maladaptive with respect to the majority of EMSs. Patients with CDR were less depressed than CDCPD or CD patients, but did not differ in terms of EMSs compared with CD patients. Conclusions Comorbid cluster C personality disorder appears to be associated with more severe EMS endorsement in chronically depressed patients. Remitted patients show similar cognitive vulnerability factors in terms of EMSs compared to those currently chronically depressed. The findings suggest that EMSs may contribute to vulnerability to chronic depression. Focusing on EMSs may be beneficial in the treatment of chronic depression.

Temperament, parenting styles and the intensity of early maladaptive schemas: assessment of correlations in a non-clinical adult group

“…Most research looks into the consequences of schemas. Authors focus mainly on finding relationships between schemas and various types of difficulties experienced both by people with different disorders (Bach and Farrell, 2018;Barazandeh et al, 2016;Flink et al, 2018;Hawke and Provencher, 2011) and healthy subjects Francis, 2010a, 2010b;Roelofs et al, 2011;Mącik and Sas, 2015).…”

Early Maladaptive schemas and Premenstrual syndrome in mothers with postpartum depression

“…According to initial description of Beck and Freeman (1990), depression is associated with EMSs and habitual thought patterns [12]. A large number of studies have shown that there is a relationship between depression and EMSs [13]. Nonetheless, some studies have not found a relationship between EMSs and depression [14].…”

A preliminary study: designing and validating projective images of Young’s early maladaptive schema (EMS) domains

“…Renner et al [ 42 ] reported that schema therapy was a good treatment for chronic depression. Moreover, early maladaptive schemas contribute to the vulnerability of chronically-depressed individuals, hence, it is beneficial to focus on them for treating chronic depression [ 18 ]. Sundag et al [ 58 ] found that the undeveloped self-schema (impaired autonomy and performance domain) and the defectiveness and shame schema (disconnection and rejection domain) were correlated with the intensified mistrust.…”