Personal and social illness demands related to depression.

Negative personal and social illness demands related to depression may first become stable and then persistent. Persistent illness demands may be a factor in the development of depression-related functioning impairment. The purpose of this study was to explore the premise of stable or persistent illness demands related to depression. The Demands of Illness Inventory (DOII) Personal Meaning and Social Relationships subscales and standard measures of depression, stress, and support were completed by adults with a history of repeated treatment for depression. Adults currently and recently treated for depression completed the illness demands and depression measures 3 times in 8 weeks. The DOII subscales showed adequate internal consistency and construct validity. High depression was associated with more intense and higher numbers of illness demands, but illness demands related to depression showed stability despite current/recent treatment.