Work

The phenomenon of despair in patients with depression

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Despair is a common feature of depressive disorders. The aim was to characterize the cognitive-affective phenomenon of despair in patients with a depressive disorder by means of the newly developed Bochum-Stuttgart Despair Scale (BSVS) in comparison to the Northwestern Ego Integrity Scale (NEIS). A total of 33 depressed patients and 33 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects were studied with respect to despair but also with respect to biographical and psychometric characteristics such as depressiveness, hopelessness, fear of finality and suicidality. Depressed patients were significantly more despondent than healthy subjects in both BSVS-Cognitive and BSVS-Emotional, and this was also reflected in the NEIS-Despair subscale. Despair of depressed patients is probably constituted by different factors than the despair of mentally healthy individuals. • Despair in patients with depression is not very well investigated. • Depressed patients showed more despair as healthy subjects. • Cognitive-affective phenomenon of despair may represent an essential psychopathology. • Despair in depression should be routinely assessed.

Source: Journal of Psychiatric Research

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.12.021

Authors: Paraskevi Mavrogiorgou, Leonard Fischer, Martin Bürgy, Georg Juckel

Institutions: University Hospitals of the Ruhr-University of Bochum, LWL-Universitätsklinikum Bochum, Ruhr University Bochum, Klinikum Stuttgart

Language: English

Topic: Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,170