ABSTRACT
Historically, depression researchers have examined continuity in terms of whether the symptoms and characteristics of mild, moderate, and severe depression differ in degree along a continuum (i.e., a quantitative difference) or in kind (i.e., qualitative difference). The authors propose a differentiated framework that distinguishes 4 direct tests of continuity (i.e., phenomenological, typological, etiological, and psychometric continuity). They use this framework to suggest that most evidence is consistent with the continuity hypothesis. Moreover, they maintain that the findings of future research can be incorporated into a 2-factor model of depression that allows for both continuities and discontinuities.
Subject(s)
Depression/diagnosis , Depressive Disorder/diagnosis , Depression/classification , Depression/psychology , Depressive Disorder/classification , Depressive Disorder/psychology , Humans , Personality Inventory/statistics & numerical data , PsychometricsABSTRACT
Much of the existing psychological literature on depression is based on research with college students. An important question is whether depression in college students represents an appropriate analogue of depression in clinical patients. The purpose of the present article is to review past evidence on this issue from a critical perspective. Past arguments are examined, and little support is found for the position that depression research with college students is not warranted. Moreover, the results of studies with student and clinical samples are compared, and the findings are generally similar across populations. Next, a number of methodological issues are identified that may actually favor the use of depressed college students, and some methodological recommendations for future research are outlined. Finally, an appeal is made for research that directly examines the analogue-clinical issue and the nature of college student depression.
Subject(s)
Depression/psychology , Depressive Disorder/psychology , Adult , Depression/diagnosis , Depressive Disorder/diagnosis , Female , Humans , Male , Personality Inventory/statistics & numerical data , Psychometrics , Psychopathology , Reference Values , ResearchABSTRACT
Depression was studied in a Canadian community sample of 582 men and 906 women over the age of 65 years. The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) provided the measure of depressive symptomatology. The Diagnostic Interview Schedule was used to confirm clinical diagnosis. A total of 8% of the sample (4.3% of men and 10.4% of women) were at or above the cut-off point of 16 on the Depression Scale. Significant Pearson correlations with depression were found for gender and education. The married and never married persons showed low depression while the widowed, separated, or divorced appeared to be at high risk. The relationship of marital status to depression is primarily a woman's issue as most elderly men are married. This finding may have implications for policy and program planning for this population.
