SELF-DEROGATION AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGY

Abstract

To test empirically the oft-repeated clinical hypothesis of a relationship between the self-derogation component of low self-esteem and severity of psychopathology across the entire range of pathology, including nondepressive disorders, this relationship was examined in 2 samples of Ss [subjects]. The 1st were 152 patients and ex-patients from 2 community mental health catchment areas followed up 2 yr after their 1st functional-disorder psychiatric admission. The 2nd group were 97 outpatients from the same catchment areas beginning therapy at a community mental health clinic. Within each sample self-derogation was related significantly to severity of diagnosis, overall health-sickness, numerous indices of symptomatology severity and a measure of difficulty in social/employment functioning. The need to recognize and treat self-derogation in psychopathological states other than depression was indicated. The important question of direction of causality between self-derogation and observed psychopathology was raised.