Focusing on situation‐specific expectations in major depression as basis for behavioural experiments – Development of the Depressive Expectations Scale

Kube, Tobias; D’Astolfo, Lisa; Glombiewski, Julia Anna; Doering, Bettina K.; Rief, Winfried

doi:10.1111/papt.12114

Cited by 55 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…Within CBT for MDD, behavioral experiments are an effective method of testing automatic thoughts in order to facilitate cognitive restructuring (Dobson and Hamilton, 2003; Beck, 2011; Dobson, 2016). Given the relevance of disorder-specific expectations in MDD, we encourage therapists to more specifically focus on patients’ expectations when designing behavioral experiments, as the “if-then” structure of expectations (as opposed to other automatic thoughts) makes them susceptible to falsification (Kube et al, 2016). That is, behavioral experiments can serve as expectation-violating situations insofar as patients can gain experiences that are contrary to their expectations (Craske et al, 2014).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a clinical psychology framework, expectations 1 have been defined as future-directed cognitions that focus on the incidence or non-incidence of a specific event or experience (Kube et al, 2016). Based on the Rescorla–Wagner model (Rescorla, 1967), expectations are developed through learning processes (Cleeremans and McClelland, 1991; Colloca and Benedetti, 2009; Colloca and Miller, 2011).…”

Section: The Relevance Of Expectations In Major Depressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Given the great impact of expectancies in clinical research, Rief et al (2015) have discussed expectancies as core features of mental disorders (Rief et al, 2015). For major depressive disorder (MDD), there is evidence that people suffering from MDD hold situation-specific dysfunctional expectations which may be elicited by depressive core beliefs (Kube et al, 2016). Clinical observations suggest that these expectations are maintained despite experiences that are contrary to patients’ expectations (“expectation violation”) (Rief and Glombiewski, 2016).…”

Section: The Relevance Of Expectations In Major Depressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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On the Maintenance of Expectations in Major Depression – Investigating a Neglected Phenomenon

2017

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In this perspective paper, we suggest that among patients suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD), dysfunctional expectations are maintained despite experiences that are contrary to these expectations. Surprisingly, this persistence of expectations in MDD has not yet been addressed by empirical studies. We argue that it is worthwhile to investigate this phenomenon with the aim of improving the treatment of MDD, and we provide a theoretical framework for understanding it. It is hypothesized that the persistence of expectations is primarily due to a process called immunization. That is, people experiencing depressive symptoms may cognitively reappraise the contradictory experience such that expectations do not need to be changed. There may be two mechanisms underlying this immunization: (1) the experience in the expectation-violating situation is considered to be an exception; or (2) the credibility of the information gained from the experience is called into question. Moreover, the maintenance of expectations may be particularly persistent if a person’s expectations reflect his or her self-concept, as self-concept has been shown to be associated with future expectations. To empirically examine the hypothesized maintenance of expectations in MDD, we propose an experimental approach which could provide important implications for the treatment of MDD within cognitive behavioral therapy. We suggest that psychological interventions such as behavioral experiments should more rigorously focus on patients’ appraisal of expectation-violating experiences in order to prevent immunization processes. Therapists should continuously examine whether patients’ expectations were modified and should address the reasons for the maintenance of expectations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Relevance Of Expectations In Major Depressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Relevance Of Expectations In Major Depressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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On the Maintenance of Expectations in Major Depression – Investigating a Neglected Phenomenon

2017

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“…We used the Depressive Expectations Scale (DES) to assess situation-specific dysfunctional expectations. The DES is a 25-item scale that was developed by Kube et al (2017) to measure MDD-specific expectations. The construction principle was, according to the method of domain sampling (Nunnally, 1978), to use common dysfunctional core beliefs (e.g., "I am not likable") to deduce situation-specific predictions thereof (e.g., "When I try to make new acquaintances, I will get to know kind people" (inverted)).…”

Section: Clinical Samplementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Besides these generalized cognitions, the current study focused on situation-specific dysfunctional expectations in depression. To assess this relatively new construct, the Depressive Expectations Scale has been developed (Kube, D'Astolfo, Glombiewski, Doering, & Rief, 2017). Using a consequent "if-then" structure, this scale assesses situational expectations for different areas of personal and interpersonal life, such as expectations concerning social rejection, social support, mood regulation, and personal performance (see Appendix 1 for some sample items).…”

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confidence: 99%

Further Specifying the Cognitive Model of Depression: Situational Expectations and Global Cognitions as Predictors of Depressive Symptoms

Kube

Herzog

Michalak

et al. 2019

CPE

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The cognitive model of depression assumes that depressive symptoms are influenced by dysfunctional cognitions. To further specify this model, the present study aimed to examine the influence of different types of cognitions on depressive symptoms, i.e., situational expectations and global cognitions. It was hypothesized that situational expectations predict depressive symptoms beyond global cognitions. The present study examined a clinical (N = 91) and a healthy sample (N = 80) using longitudinal data with a baseline assessment and a follow-up five months later. Although the study was not designed as an interventional trial, participants from the clinical study received non-manualized cognitive-behavioral treatment after the baseline assessment. We examined situational expectations, intermediate beliefs, dispositional optimism, and generalized expectancies for negative mood regulation as predictors of depressive symptoms. Hypotheses were tested using multiple hierarchical linear regression analyses. Results indicate that, although there were significant correlations between the cognitive factors and depressive symptoms, in both samples neither global cognitions, nor situational expectations significantly predicted depressive symptoms at the five-month follow-up. The present study could, contrary to the hypotheses, not provide evidence for a significant impact of cognitive vulnerabilities on depressive symptoms, presumably due to high drop-out rates at follow-up. Limitations of the study and directions for future research are critically discussed. Situational and global cognitions were examined as predictors of depressive symptoms. In a healthy and a clinical sample, cognitive factors were correlated with depressive symptoms. However, in both samples depressive symptoms at follow-up were not predicted by cognitive factors. Situational and global cognitions were examined as predictors of depressive symptoms. In a healthy and a clinical sample, cognitive factors were correlated with depressive symptoms. However, in both samples depressive symptoms at follow-up were not predicted by cognitive factors.

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How expectations and therapeutic style influence counselling outcome

Schamong

D’Astolfo

Bollmann

et al. 2022

Couns and Psychother Res

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ObjectiveWith a lack of experimental designs in psychotherapy/counselling process research, evidence is limited regarding which therapeutic style is helpful for which patient and the role of expectations. Therefore, the aim of this experimental study was to manipulate the therapeutic style and clients' expectations towards psychological counselling and investigate their effects on counselling outcome.MethodEighty healthy participants (74% female, Mage = 31.2 years, SDage = 12.21) received a single counselling session focussing on interpersonal conflicts. We defined two therapeutic styles (relationship‐focussed vs. problem‐focussed) based on the interpersonal circumplex, and participants were led to believe they would receive one of the two styles. In the actual counselling session, they received either the expected or the contrary, resulting in a 2 x 2 design. Primary outcome rated by participants was subjective impairment caused by the conflict 2 weeks after the session; secondary outcomes were satisfaction with the session and perceived working alliance.ResultsThe successful implementation of the proposed therapeutic styles was confirmed by adherence ratings (U = 25.50, p < 0.001) and ratings of counsellors’ behaviour in the circumplex model (p < 0.001) for the friendly and hostile dimensions. Impairment was significantly reduced 2 weeks after the counselling session, but this effect was dependent on neither the therapeutic style, clients' expectations, nor their interaction.DiscussionThe study provides the first evidence that a single counselling session appears to be effective in alleviating impairment caused by an interpersonal conflict, independent of the counselling style and client expectations. The novel experimental design provides a basis for further process research in psychological counselling and psychotherapy.

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Focusing on situation‐specific expectations in major depression as basis for behavioural experiments – Development of the Depressive Expectations Scale

Cited by 55 publications

References 67 publications

On the Maintenance of Expectations in Major Depression – Investigating a Neglected Phenomenon

On the Maintenance of Expectations in Major Depression – Investigating a Neglected Phenomenon

Further Specifying the Cognitive Model of Depression: Situational Expectations and Global Cognitions as Predictors of Depressive Symptoms

How expectations and therapeutic style influence counselling outcome

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