Developmental differences in depression: cognitive-perceptual distortion in adolescent versus adult female depressives.

This study was undertaken to determine differential cognitive-perceptual distortion in depression for adolescent versus adult females. Twenty-five female adolescent and twenty-five female adult psychiatric inpatients served as subjects. Each had received a primary diagnosis of neurotic or reactive depression and had completed the Beck Depression Inventory within five days of hospitalization. Results indicated significant similarities between the groups in anger at self and sense of failure. These may serve as unifying themes for adolescent and adult depressives. Results also indicated significant differences between the two groups. Adult female depressives demonstrated an internalized, ruminative focus to their depressive cognitions. Adolescent female depressives demonstrated an externalized focus to their depressive cognitions. Adults demonstrated a preoccupation with their own view of themselves and perceived themselves as a failure in their own eyes. Adolescents demonstrated a preoccupation with how others view them and perceived themselves as a failure in the eyes of others. These results are discussed in terms of developmental, theoretical, and treatment issues for adolescent versus adult depressives generally. Depression may exacerbate cognitive-perceptual distortions already existing within the adolescent population. In treatment, group psychotherapy may prove particularly efficacious for adolescent depressives.