A Study of the Interaction Between Depressed Patients and Their Spouses

¹ Senior Research Assistant, University of Bristol, Department of Mental Health, 39/41 St. Michael's Hill, Bristol
² Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, University of Bristol, Department of Mental Health, 39/41 St. Michael's Hill, Bristol
³ Senior Consultant Lecturer in Mental Health, University of Bristol, Department of Mental Health, 39/41 St. Michael's Hill, Bristol
⁴ Research Assistant, University of Bristol, Department of Mental Health, 39/41 St. Michael's Hill, Bristol

We have described a study of 10 depressed patient couples and 11 surgical control couples. Discussion was generated between parties, and a videotape recording was taken of the interaction. The verbal data were transcribed and analysed into four domains, Expressiveness, Responsiveness, Person control and Tension. The non-verbal data were analysed in terms of hand-movements and posture. We also compared the patient's behaviour with a stranger, and made a follow-up recording of patient and spouse 3 to 12 months later.

Significant differences in interaction were found between patient couples compared with control couples and the patient-stranger interaction. This was revealed verbally in the domains of Expressiveness, Person Control and Indirect Responsiveness.

For the non-verbal analysis we found it useful to discriminate between fast speaking and slow speaking speakers. Again significant differences in hand movements and posture between depressed and control couples reflected the state of interaction between those couples.

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