1. relationships & mood: importance
research review on connection between depression & social support, attributional style, personality, dysfunctional attitudes, marital distress and coping style
little evidence of cognitive vulnerability to depression
marital distress and low social integration seem to be involved in the aetiology of depression
Barnett PA et al Psychosocial functioning & depression: distinguishing among antecedents, concomitants, & consequences Psychol Bull 1988;104:97-126

2. couples - the ibm
try completing this pretty rapidly - just jot down your first gut reactions
then go over it again changing any answers that feel wrong … or marking answers that you’re not sure about
note any answers that you would like to discuss or work to improve

3. intimate bond measure scores
high scores on care and low on control are good; though extreme scores aren’t necessarily ideal
in fact what is judged as “ideal” will vary somewhat from couple to couple
average scores typically are around for care and for control
optimal
intimacy
affectionate
constraint
care
average
absence of
intimacy
affectionless
control
control
Wilhelm K & Parker G The development of a measure
of intimate bonds Psychol Med 1988;18:225-34

4. ibm scores & depression
care scores are the most important, though low care often goes with high control
depressives who would recover in the next few months initially scored for total partner care
depressives who would not recover in the next few months scored 12 for care
normals
care
recovered
affectionless
control
not
recovered
control
Hickie I et al Perceived interpersonal risk factors of non-
endogenous depression Psychol Med 1991;21:

5. to stay or to leave?
group A had partners with initial IBM care scores of 20 or more
group B & C rated their partners at less than 20 for IBM care
group B separated from their partners while group C didn’t C
depr’n
score A B
Hickie I et al The impact of an uncaring partner
on improvement in non-melancholic depression
J Affect Dis 1992;25:147-60
weeks

6. assertiveness is important
Larson
assertiveness is important
avoid being a
doormat or a
sledgehammer
hey, bucko … I’m through begging