This study used a longitudinal design to investigate the relation between depression and pessimism-related cognitions about the self, world, and future in a clinical sample of psychiatric inpatients. A group of 30 inpatients diagnosed with major depressive illness was compared with a mixed-diagnostic comparison group of 28 inpatients on a measure of syndromal depression, as well as on pessimism-related cognitive measures of self-esteem, perceptions of the benevolence of the world, and hopelessness. All subjects completed the measures at two time points: within four days of admission to an psychiatric inpatient unit, and an average of 13.5 days later. It was expected that the nosologically depressed group would endorse more negative pessimism-related cognitions than the comparison group, that the pessimism-related cognitions would persist beyond remission of depressive symptoms, and that Time 1 cognitions would significantly predict Time 2 depression after controlling for depression at Time 1. Contrary to expectations, groups did not differ on the measure of syndromal depression, nor on the measures of cognitions pertaining to the self and future. Both groups exhibited a significant decline in depressive symptoms over time. Moreover, scores on the pessimism-related cognitive measures changed in concert with scores on the depression measure, and did not predict Time 2 depression. Additionally, significant interactions of group, gender, and time on the measure of syndromal depression, and interactions of group and gender on the cognitive measures, were found. These interactions revealed that men in the nosologically depressed group scored significantly lower than men in the comparison group on the measure of syndromal depression, and endorsed more positive cognitions about the self, world, and future. These findings refute major theoretical postulates regarding depressotypic cognitions, in that pessimism-related cognitions were: (1) not specific to nosological depression; (2) were mood-state dependent, with the exception of cognitions about the world; and (3) did not serve a maintenance function in syndromal depression. Exploratory analyses suggest that for the depressed group only, hopelessness may significantly predict Time 2 depression, and thus serve to prolong depression. The theoretical and clinical implications of all findings are discussed.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, 2005. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 66-07, Section: B, page: 3936. Adviser: Amy Wisniewski.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Drexel University, 2006. / Includes abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 88-98).

HIV-positive gay men face unique, and extreme, psychological stressors. They know they are infected with a virus of lethal and immedicable potency. They must tolerate the tremendous uncertainty of not knowing when, if, or to what extent their immune systems will falter. Additionally, many have experienced multiple bereavements (Martin, 1988), a trend that will escalate as the epidemic worsens. Given these profound psychological challenges, how, if at all, have HIV-positive gay men made sense of, or found meaning in, AIDS and their own HIV infection? Nineteen HIV-positive gay men participated in intensive semi-structured clinical interviews, to determine the strategies by which they ascribed meaning to their situation. The men ranged in age from 27 to 50 years old, and had known of their HIV status for between 18 and 106 months. Most were asymptomatic. Several had experienced some HIV-related health impairments. None had AIDS. All lived in urban settings with established gay communities. Interview data were analyzed primarily within the framework of Assumptive World theory (Janoff-Bulman, 1989), which holds that the ability to ascribe meaning to one's life is necessary for optimal psychological functioning. Such a perspective is consonant with data on a vast array of traumatic life experiences (e.g., Frankl, 1959; Janoff-Bulman, 1989; Lifton, 1968, 1980; Parkes, 1988; Schwartzberg & Janoff-Bulman, in press; Wortman & Silver, 1987, 1989). The interviews revealed ten "representations" by which participants attributed specific meanings to HIV and AIDS: catalyst for personal or spiritual growth; belonging; relief; strategy; punishment; self-contamination; confirmation of powerlessness; isolation; and irreparable loss. Four general patterns typified the participants' attempts to integrate HIV into a larger framework for ascribing meaning to the world: "shattered meaning" (inability to integrate HIV into a new worldview); "high meaning" (successful integration of HIV into a new worldview); "defensive meaning" (superficial integration of HIV into a new worldview); and "irrelevant meaning" (the minimization or denial of the impact of AIDS). Many subjects identified at least some beneficial aspects of their situation. For some, HIV was a dramatic catalyst for growth. Most had adapted well, suggesting that many HIV-positive gay men are coping effectively with the enormous challenges they face.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, 1992. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 52-04, Section: B, page: 2316.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, 1991. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 52-05, Section: B, page: 2775. Co-Chairs: Karl Mueller; Wayne K. Detloff.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, 1994. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 55-11, Section: B, page: 5086. Chair: Nancy Bliwise.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, 1995. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-06, Section: B, page: 3434. Adviser: Amy Wisniewski.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, 1996. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 57-08, Section: B, page: 5332.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, 1999. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 60-08, Section: B, page: 4215. Chair: Roger L. Greene.