Ruminative Thoughts and Severity of Depression among Patients with Depressive Disorders

Abstract

Background:Depressive disorder is the most prevalent psychiatric disorder that influences 350 million individuals worldwide. It negatively affects social, familial functioning, and work productivity due to depressive symptoms that include disturbed eating and sleep habits, lack the desire to do things, impaired social and occupational functioning, and inability to maintain successful relationship besides the depressed mood. In response to their depressive symptoms, some individuals use ruminative thoughts to identify why they feel depressed in an attempt solve their problem. However, rumination exaggerates the depressive symptoms and may impair social problem solving.