Psychological change in neurotic depression: a repertory grid and personal construct theory approach.

Journal article

Personal construct theory and repertory grid methodology were applied to a study of psychological change experienced by a sample of ten neurotic depressives and their matched controls during short-term hospitalization. All subjects completed a repertory grid and the Zung depression scale on admission to hospital. Depressives were characterized by lower self-esteem, more negative social perception and higher scores on the Zung scale. Both measures were repeated at the time of discharge from hospital. Depressives showed a significant reduction in depressive mood, more positive social perception, and a change in th construing of the self; controls showed no changes. It is argued that the use of a quantitative assessment technique reinforced by a theoretical framework results in a more refined understanding of psychological change.

Authors: Hewstone, M; Hooper, D; Miller, K

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science
• Volume: 139
• Issue: JUL
• Pages: 47-51
• Publication date: 1981-07-01
• DOI: 10.1192/bjp.139.1.47
• EISSN: 1472-1465
• ISSN: 0007-1250
• Language: English
• Keywords: Self Concept; Depressive Disorder; Adult; Middle Aged; Social Perception; Psychological Theory; Aged; Humans; Female