Fixable or fate? Perceptions of the biology of depression

Abstract

Objective: Previous research has shown that biological (e.g., genetic, biochemical) accounts of depression--currently in ascendancy--are linked to the general public's pessimism about the syndrome's prognosis. This research examined for the first time whether people with depressive symptoms would associate biological accounts of depression with pessimism about their own prognoses and whether a psychoeducation intervention portraying the biology of depression as malleable could decrease prognostic pessimism among symptomatic individuals.

Method: In 3 studies, participants were recruited online and assessed for depression symptoms. Those with significant depressive symptomatology (a Beck Depression Inventory-II score of at least 16) rated their endorsement of biochemical and genetic causal attributions for their symptoms and indicated expected length of symptom duration. An audiovisual intervention emphasizing the malleability of gene effects and neurochemistry was developed, and its effects on symptomatic individuals' prognostic pessimism, feelings of agency, guilt, and general hopelessness were measured.

Results: Biochemical and genetic causal attributions for depression were significantly associated with prognostic pessimism among symptomatic individuals. The malleability intervention significantly reduced prognostic pessimism, increased feelings of agency, and decreased general hopelessness.

Conclusions: Biochemical and genetic attributions for depression are related to prognostic pessimism among individuals with depressive symptoms, and not just among the general public. However, emphasizing the malleability of gene effects and brain chemistry in depression can foster more optimism about depression-related beliefs.

Figures

Figure 1

Mean ratings of expected symptom duration, by condition, in study 2. Ratings were made on a scale from 1 (“Less than 1 week”) to 9 (“Indefinitely”). As such, higher bars indicate greater prognostic pessimism.

Figure 2

Mean responses by condition, to the question “What do you think are the odds that your sad, blue, or depressed mood will go away?” Ratings could range from 0% to 100%; higher bars indicate greater optimism.

Figure 3

Mean agency scores by condition. Agency scores represent the mean of participants’ agreement with the statements “There are things I can do to eliminate my sad, blue, or depressed mood” and “I am able to improve my sad, blue, or depressed mood,” rated on a scale from 1 (Completely Disagree) to 7 (Completely Agree). Higher bars indicate greater perceptions of personal agency.

Figure 4

Mean scores among individuals scoring at least 16 on the BDI-II, by condition, on the modified Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS). The range of possible scores was 20–120, with higher scores denoting a greater degree of hopelessness.