The British Journal of Psychiatry (2008) 192: 275-278. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.107.038711
© 2008 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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Attributional style and depression

Harriet A. Ball, MSc, Peter McGuffin, PhD, FRCP, FRCPsych and Anne E. Farmer, MD, FRCPsych

Medical Research Council Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK

Correspondence: Harriet Ball, Box 080, MRC Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK. Email: harriet.ball{at}iop.kcl.ac.uk

Declaration of interest

None. Funding from the Wellcome Trust.

Background

Few studies have examined whether attributional style (an individual's explanation of why events happen) is a genetically influenced vulnerability factor for depression.

Aims

To investigate whether attributional style is an enduring vulnerability trait for recurrent depression.

Method

As part of the Cardiff Depression Study, we interviewed 108 people with depression and their siblings, and a control group of 105 healthy individuals and their siblings, using the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry and the Life Events and Difficulties Schedule. Participants also completed the Attributional Style Questionnaire.

Results

Regression analyses showed that attributional style results from mood state and is not a familial risk factor for depression. However, the tendency to internalise negative events was related to having had a prior episode of depression, suggesting a `scarring' effect. Also, non-severe events were associated with one subset of optimistic attributions.

Conclusions

Attributional style mainly measures current mood and does not reflect a familial risk factor for depression.


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