The absence of a close, confiding relationship has been identified as a vulnerability factor to depression for women under adverse circumstances. Marital discord has also been identified as a risk factor in initiating and sustaining depression in women. Recent research has suggested that marriages with a depressed spouse are associated with lack of intimacy and decreased self-disclosure. This paper reviews three controlled outcome studies which demonstrate that marital therapy in combination with antidepressant medication is not indicated for hospitalized women with major affective disorder but either alone or in combination with antidepressants, marital therapy is a viable treatment for outpatient women who are suffering from depression.
References
1.
BirtchnellJ.Negative modes of relating, marital quality and depression.Br J Psychiatry1991; 158: 648–657.
BeachS.R.H., NelsonG.M.Pursuing research on major psycho-pathology contextual perspective. In: BrodyG.H., SigelI.E., eds. The example of depression and marital discord in methods of family research.New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum,1990: 227–258.
4.
HooleyJ.M., OrleyJ., TeasdaleJ.D.Levels of expressed emotion and relapse in depressed patients.Br J Psychiatry1986; 148: 642–647.
5.
BeachS~H, O'LearyC.A.D.The treatment of depression occuring in the context of marital discord.Behaviour Therapy1986; 17: 43–49.
6.
O'LearyC.A.D., BeachS.R.H.Marital therapy: a viable treatment for depression and marital discord.Am J Psychiatry1990; 147: 183–186.
7.
WaringE.M.Enhancing marital intimacy through cognitive self-disclosure.New York: Brunner/Mazel,1988.
8.
WaringE.M.The self-disclosure of personal constructs.Fam Process1990; 29(4): 399–416.
9.
WaringE.M., CarverC., StalkerC.Waiting list controlled trial of cognitive marital therapy in severe marital discord.J Marital Fam Ther1991; 17(3): 243–256.
10.
WaringE.M., CarverC., StalkerC.A randomized ciinical trial of cognitive marital therapy.J Sex Marital Ther1990; 17(1): 22–26.
11.
BrownG.W., HarrisT.Social origins of depression: a study of psychiatric disorder in women.London: Free Press,1987.
12.
WaringE.M., PattonD.Marital intimacy and depression.Br J Psychiatry1984; 145: 641–644.
13.
WaringE.M., ReddonJ.R., CorvenelliM.Marital intimacy and mood states in a non-clinical sample.J Psychol1983; 115: 263–273.
14.
BiglanA., HopsH., ShermanL.S.Problem solving interactions of depressed women and their spouses.Behav Ther1985; 16: 431–451.
15.
BeckA.T., WardC.H., MendelsonN.An inventory for measuring depression.Arch Gen Psychiatry1961; 4: 561–571.
16.
GoldbergD., HillierV.H.A scaled version of the GHQ.Psychol Med1979; 9: 139–145.
17.
HamiltonM.A rating scale for depression.J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry1960; 23: 56–62.
18.
MerikangasK.R.Divorce and assortive mating among depressed patients.Am J Psychiatry1984; 141(1): 74–76.
19.
RuestowP., DunnerD., BleeckerB., and FieveR.R.Marital adjustment in primary affective disorder.Compr Psychiatry1978; 19: 565–571.
20.
CarverC.M., WaringE.M., ChamberlaineC.H.Detection of depression in couples in conflict.Canada's Mental Health1978; 35(4): 2–5.
21.
FriedmanA.S.Interaction of drug therapy with marital therapy in deprressive patients.Arch Gen Psychiatry1975; 32: 619–638.
22.
RosenthalD., FrankJ.D.Psychotherapy and the placebo effect.Psychol Bull1980; 53: 294–302.
23.
WeiszG., BucherB.Involving husbands in the treatment of obesity: effects of weight loss, depression, and marital satisfaction.Behav Ther1980; 11: 643–650.
24.
WaringE.M.The measurement of marital intimacy.J Marital Fam Ther1984; 10: 185–192.
25.
HafnerR.J.Spouse-aided therapy in psychiatry: an introduction.Aust N Z J Psychiatry15: 329–337.
