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Cognitive-behavioural theories of helplessness/hopelessness: Valid models of depression?

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European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract.

Helplessness and hopelessness are central aspects of cognitive-behavioural explanations for the development and persistence of depression. In this article a general overview concerning the evolution of those approaches to depression is provided.

Included is a critical examination of the theories. The review of the literature suggests that those cognitive models describing helplessness/hopelessness as trait factors mediating depression do not really have a strong empirical base. The majority of those studies had been conducted in healthy or only mildly depressed subjects. Thus, there seems to be little justification for broad generalisations beyond the populations studied. It seems that some of the reported studies have not tested the underlying theories adequately (e. g. correlation had sometimes been interpreted as causation; adequate prospective longitudinal study designs had seldom been applied). Moreover, the theoretical models are not generally prepared to explain all depressive features (e. g. the possibility of a spontaneous shift in a manic episode).

Despite those limitations, there is a relevant impact of the learned helplessness paradigm on preclinical research in neurobiological correlates of depressive states. Last but not least, the models are of high interest with respect to the theoretical background of important modules of cognitive-behavioural therapy and its acute and prophylactic effects.

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Received: 1 October 2002 / Accepted: 2 October 2002

Correspondence to Verena Henkel; MD

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Henkel, V., Bussfeld, P., Möller, HJ. et al. Cognitive-behavioural theories of helplessness/hopelessness: Valid models of depression?. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences 252, 240–249 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-002-0389-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-002-0389-y

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