Maladaptive cognitive structures in depression.

According to the cognitive view, the individual's negative and distorted thinking is the basic psychological problem in the depressive syndrome. The distorted cognitions are supported by maladaptive cognitive schemata, which involve immature "either-or" rules of conduct or inflexible and unattainable self-expectations. These schemata are probably acquired early in development and, if uncritically carried into adulthood, serve to predispose the individual to depression. Since these schemata are long-term identifiable psychological patterns that influence attitude and behavioral responses, they may constitute a cognitive dimension of the depression-prone individual's personality. The authors discuss the treatment implications of the cognitive approach to depression.