The occurrence of a stressful event is considered to increase the risk of developing depression. In the present study we explore whether the breakup of a romantic relationship can be used as an experimental model to study a depression-like state during a period of stress in individuals without a psychiatric disorder. The primary aim of our study was to investigate: 1) whether individuals with a recent romantic relationship breakup (‘‘heartbreak”) demonstrate symptoms of depression, 2) how to describe heartbreak characteristics based on data from a comprehensive questionnaire battery, and 3) whether this description can capture severity of depression symptoms. Secondary, we were interested in gender differences with regard to the above study objectives. Subjects who have experienced a relationship breakup in the preceding six months (N = 71) or are in a romantic relationship (N = 46) participated in our study. A questionnaire battery was administered to acquire information related to depression, mood, the breakup and (former) relationship. Principal Component Analysis with Procrustes bootstrapping was performed to extract components from the questionnaire data. Even though our sample of individuals who recently have experienced a relationship breakup can be on average considered non-depressed, group-level depression scores were elevated compared to individuals in a relationship (p = .001) and 26.8% reported symptoms corresponding to mild, moderate or severe depression. We described heartbreak by two principal components interpreted as ‘‘sudden loss” and ‘‘lack of positive affect”, respectively. Highly significant correlations between the component scores and depression scores were found (p < .001 and p < .001, respectively), although these correlations differed between the genders. Based on these findings, we propose that the experience of a romantic relationship breakup is a viable experimental model to examine symptoms of depression in individuals without a psychiatric disorder. This way, stress-related coping and depression vulnerability can be studied in further research.
Citation: Verhallen Are, Renken RJ, ) Connection break up: A fresh model to analyze negative effects of stress on depression (-like) attacks. PLoS You to definitely fourteen(5): e0217320.
Copyright: © 2019 Verhallen mais aussi al. This really is an open supply blog post distributed within the terms of new Imaginative Commons Attribution Permit, and that it allows open-ended fool around with, shipment, and you will breeding in just about any medium, offered the original author and you can source is actually paid.
Partnership separation: An experimental design to learn ramifications of stress on despair (-like) episodes
Studies Supply: The data are not held during the a general public repository due in order to limitations throughout the told concur (victims have not offered consent to provides their research in public held) and you may European data confidentiality laws and regulations (GDPR). The content appear into the demand. A data accessibility panel might have been put in place, comprising Prof G.J. ter Horst (Principal Detective of one’s analysis), J.B.C. Marsman and you will Prof An effective. Aleman (direct of the Intellectual Neuroscience Heart), who can comment requests and you will to ensure access to of your own data. So it supply panel can be achieved via
Funding: The analysis is actually funded by the a contribution out-of Mr Hazewinkel to help you the research College off Behavioral and Intellectual Neurosciences and you may Prof Grams.J. ter Horst. Mr Hazewinkel didn’t come with character during the study structure, data collection and you will investigation, choice to publish, or preparing of your own manuscript.
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Stressful life-occurrences are believed getting chance activities to the development of anxiety. Kendler mais aussi al. examined the latest interplay anywhere between tiring incidents, genetic predisposition and you will depression certainly one of lady twins and found one to each other genetics and you can thickness out of tiring occurrences resulted in this new start of depressive symptoms separately. Particularly events with a high feeling, such as loss of a virtually partner and you will divorce case, raised the ferzu daten probability of development an effective depressive event, whilst the majority of people do not generate a good depressive episode pursuing the contact with an upsetting knowledge. Hence, browse targeting tiring and you may mentally upsetting events will offer worthwhile understanding on the private distinctions off stress-relevant dealing while the results of be concerned and you can depression.