Cognition, attributional style and depression

The main objective of this study was the experimental analysis of the influence of attributional style and negative cognitions on the university students depressive state. Results showed that both attributions (measured by the ASQ, Attributional Style Questionaire) and negative thinking (measured by the CTI, Cognitive Triad Inventory) correlated with severity of depression measured by the BDI, althoguh CTI correlations were significantly higher that those of the ASQ. Moreover, only CTI measures of self, the world and the future discriminated among depressed, disforic and normal groups according to the Beck cognitive model of Depressión. These results were also analysed according to the reformulated theory of Learned Helplessness.