Why people think they are depressed and what do they want to do about it

Over the years researchers have devoted a lot of time to working out the causes of depression. However, there has been a lot less research into what sufferers themselves think causes their depression and whether this influences what kind of treatment they choose. Researchers from Maastricht University in the Netherlands studied 221 people seeking treatment for depression. The participants were divided into three groups those who thought their depression was due to something within themselves (intraindividual), those who thought it was due to their relationship with others (interpersonal), and those who thought it was due to their brain chemistry (biological). The intraindividual group were more likely to choose cognitive behaviour therapy while the biological group were more likely to opt for drug therapy. Those who thought their depression was due to their relationships with other people had no clear preference about their treatment.

Schweizer, Susanne ... [et al] - Does illness attribution affect treatment assignment in depression Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy September-October 2010, 17(5), 418-426