States of mind as predictors of psychotherapeutic outcome in the treatment of depression.

摘要

This investigation examined the use of the States of Mind (SOM; Schwartz & Garamoni, 1986) ratios as predictors of psychotherapeutic change and the frequency of dropouts in the treatment of depression. According the SOM Model, optimal mental functioning is defined by the ratio of approximately two positive cognitions for every negative cognition. The Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire-Revised (ATQ-R; Kendall, Howard, & Hayes, 1989) was used as a means of operationalizing SOM. Archival data, gathered from the research protocols of 65 outpatients who were treated with cognitive therapy for major depression in the psychiatric facility at Kaiser Permamente Hospital in Santa Clara, were analyzed. Pretreatment SOM was found to be predictive of treatment outcome above and beyond the established predictors of the presence of the personality disorder, education, and severity of depression. Pretreatment SOM were not predictive of which subjects dropped out of the study over the course of treatment. By demonstrating the efficacy of SOM for predicting therapeutic outcome, clinicians may make more informed choices regarding who is likely to benefit from cognitive-behavioral therapy.