The Depressive Experiences Questionnaire as a Measure of Psychoanalytic Constructs Reported to be Measured

Abstract

This study presents an empirical test of Coyne, Thompson, and Whiffen's statement that the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire does not measure the psychoanalytic constructs it is supposed to measure. Convergence was evaluated between the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire's Dependency and Self-criticism scales and clinicians' ratings on hysterical/anaclitic and obsessional/introjective personality styles in a sex-balanced sample of 56 Flemish outpatients. In line with expectations from Blatt's research paradigm, convergence was observed between the Dependency scale and ratings on hysterical/anaclitic style in the full sample as well as female and male samples separately; convergence between the Self-criticism scale and ratings on obsessional/introjective style was only observed for men. This study yielded no evidence for divergence of the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire and Blatt's psychoanalytic theory. Research is needed to evaluate the sex-specific validity of these subscales.

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