The effects of Cumulative Trauma and Cognitive Rigidity on the Severity of Depressive Disorder: Preliminary Results

Abstract

Introduction: The long-lasting effects of trauma on mental health and the cumulative effect during the lifetime is one of the main interests in research and applied psychology. However, the effect of cumulative trauma in combination with cognitive biases, such as cognitive rigidity ('all-or-nothing' thinking pattern), on the severity of depression has not been tested yet. Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyse these variables while considering differential gender effects on a sample of patients with the diagnosis of depressive disorder. Methods: A total sample of 177 patients (137 women) was assessed using the Cumulative Trauma Scale. Cognitive rigidity was measured with the Repertory Grid Technique and the severity of depressive symptoms with the Beck Depression Inventory. Results: indicated that high levels of cognitive rigidity and a high frequency of perceived negative cumulative trauma predicted depressive symptoms; while the high frequency of perceived positive trauma did not predict depressive symptoms. Moreover, gender did not explain the variability of depression, and its interaction with the frequency of perceived trauma was not significant. Conclusions: Overall, traumatic cumulative trauma frequency and its negative appraisal are key to understanding the severity of depression but also cognitive rigidity seemed to be a relevant factor to consider. Thus, these results highlight the need to focus on traumatic and cognitive aspects to increase the efficacy of psychological interventions in depression.