The Journal of nervous and mental disease
-
J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. · Sep 2011
The effects of neuroticism, extraversion, and positive and negative life events on a one-year course of depressive symptoms in euthymic previously depressed patients versus healthy controls.
We investigated a) the concurrent impact of positive and negative life events on the course of depressive symptoms in persons remitted from depression and healthy controls, b) whether the impact of life events on symptom course is moderated by the history of depression and the personality traits of neuroticism and extraversion, and c) whether life events mediate possible relationships of history of depression and personality traits with symptom course. Using data from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety, we examined 239 euthymic participants with a previous depressive disorder based on DSM-IV and 450 healthy controls who completed a) baseline assessments of personality dimensions (NEO Five-Factor Inventory) and depression severity (Inventory of Depressive Symptoms [IDS]) and b) 1-year follow-up assessments of depression severity and the occurrence of positive and negative life events during the follow-up period (List of Threatening Events Questionnaire). ⋯ The impact of life events on symptom course was not moderated by history of depression or personality traits. The effect of extraversion on symptom course was partly caused by differential engagement in positive life events.
-
J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. · Sep 2011
The journey through cannabis use: a qualitative study of the experiences of young adults with psychosis.
The present study explored the personal experiences of cannabis and psychosis among young adults, including the reasons and meanings of cannabis use and the perceived relationship between cannabis and mental health. Interviews with seven young adults with psychosis who described regular current or past cannabis use were conducted and analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Four master themes emerged: The Journey Through Cannabis Use, The Social and Cultural World, The Struggle to Make Sense, and The Depths and Beyond. ⋯ Social and cultural factors clearly influenced the initiation of and decision whether to continue using cannabis. Individuals could simultaneously hold positive and negative views on using cannabis. Implications for clinical interventions are explored, and the relevance of motivational interviewing and the stages of change models of behavior change are noted.