Cognitive emotion regulation strategies as differential predictors of anxiety and depression, quality of life, and functioning in primary care patients with emotional disorders.

INTRODUCTION

Emotional disorders (ED) such as depression and anxiety are the most prevalent worldwide and are often addressed in primary care (PC). Stressful events can cause people to activate adaptive or maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies (CERS). The type of CERS used by an individual with an ED may influence clinical outcomes, quality of life (QoL), and functioning, although the precise effects are not well-understood. The aim of this study was to determine whether CERS are significant predictors of clinical symptoms, QoL, and functioning in PC patients with EDs.

METHOD: This study included 685 patients referred for psychological therapy within the PsicAP-CV clinical trial. All data were obtained from self-report measures. Correlation analyses and hierarchical multiple linear regression models were performed, with sociodemographic variables entered in the first step and CERS in the second step.

RESULTS

Sociodemographic variables explained 4% to 20% of variance. The addition of CERS increased the explained variance to 13%-40%, indicating that CERS is a significant predictor of clinical symptoms, QoL, and functioning in these patients. The use of adaptive CERS was associated with fewer clinical symptoms and better QoL and functioning. By contrast, maladaptive CERS were associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression and poorer QoL and functioning.

DISCUSSION: Emotion regulation could be a relevant transdiagnostic construct to be considered in the therapeutic context, both in the prevention and treatment of anxiety and depression.