Change in self‐esteem predicts depressive symptoms at follow‐up after intensive multimodal psychotherapy for major depression

Abstract

Self-esteem is related to depressive symptoms and interpersonal problems. Improvement of self-esteem during psychotherapy correlates with improvements of symptoms and interpersonal problems. Change of self-esteem during psychotherapy predicts depressive symptoms 6 months after termination of therapy. When treating depressed patients, psychotherapists should work towards an improvement of self-esteem in order to prevent relapse.

The role of self‐esteem in the treatment of patients with anorexia nervosa – A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Although the studies included in these reviews differed, low initial self-esteem was identified as a risk factor for an unfavorable long-term outcome in both analyses. A similar result was recently obtained in patients with depression (Dinger, Ehrenthal, Nikendei, & Schauenburg, 2017). Note.…”

“…Furthermore, not only should initial self-esteem be considered but also the change in self-esteem achieved through treatment as it may influence remission-related outcomes after 12 months in adult AN inpatients (Carter et al, 2012;McCormick et al, 2009). A similar result was recently obtained in patients with depression (Dinger, Ehrenthal, Nikendei, & Schauenburg, 2017). The indications of such mediating effects support theoretical ideas of self-esteem as a key maintaining factor; however, additional studies investigating the mediational effects are urgently needed (Dinger et al, 2017).…”

“…In contrast, an effect on EOT outcome and treatment FIGURE 4 Forest plot for studies on self-esteem changes at the end of treatment. The indications of such mediating effects support theoretical ideas of self-esteem as a key maintaining factor; however, additional studies investigating the mediational effects are urgently needed (Dinger et al, 2017). The absence of "+" indicates a "mixed/not reported" age group, the assessment of self-esteem with an "other instrument" or a "mixed/day-patient" setting, respectively.…”

A prognostic index for long-term outcome after successful acute phase cognitive therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy for major depressive disorder

“…Previous studies have shown a diminished self‐esteem in individuals with depression (Creemers, Scholte, Engels, Prinstein, & Wiers, ; Franck, De Raedt, Dereu, & Van den Abbeele, ; Phillips, Hine, & Bhullar, ) and an increase of self‐esteem during various treatment modalities for depression (Barkham et al., ; Goldman, Greenberg, & Angus, ; Strunk, DeRubeis, Chiu, & Alvarez, ). While one study found no predictive effect of post‐treatment self‐esteem on relapse 1 year after CT (Strunk et al., ), others found that an improvement in self‐esteem predicted less depressive symptoms after finishing either psychodynamically oriented therapy and cognitive–behavioral group therapy (Allart‐van Dam, Hoogduin, & Schaap, ; Dinger, Ehrenthal, Nikendei, & Schauenburg, ). Within an interpersonal perspective, low self‐esteem and high levels of hopelessness are closely associated with loneliness and low levels of perceived social support which are well known risk factors contributing to the development of MDD (Cacioppo, Grippo, London, Goossens, & Cacioppo, ; van Winkel et al., ).…”

Improving self‐esteem through integrative group therapy for personality dysfunction: Investigating the role of the therapeutic alliance and quality of object relations

“…In a recent study, improvement in self-esteem during intensive multimodal psychotherapy treatment for depression predicted lower levels of depression 6 months after termination (Dinger et al, 2017). In a recent study, improvement in self-esteem during intensive multimodal psychotherapy treatment for depression predicted lower levels of depression 6 months after termination (Dinger et al, 2017).…”