Attributional factors in the treatment of learned helplessness

Abstract

A recent reformulation of the learned helplessness model for depression makes predictions about treatment strategies that are likely to change maladaptive behaviour. Stage 1 was designed to expose all subjects to uncontrollability, predicted to result in helplessness. Feedback for responses in a problem-solving task was response-independent. In Stage 2 half the total number of subjects were given information designed to induce attributions to internal, global, stable factors (Depressed Attribution), and the other half information designed to encourage them to attribute their failure in Stage 1 to external, unstable, specific factors (Treatment Attribution). Half the subjects in each attribution group were given graded series completion problems designed to treat helplessness (Treatment Task) and the other half of each group were given no task. In Stage 3, response latencies and trials to criterion levels of escape and avoidance responding were recorded in an instrumental shuttle box task. Performance in Stage 3 was significantly more efficient in groups with Treatment Attribution and Treatment Task. In so far as helplessness is an adequate model of depression, it is concluded that the reformulated helplessness model offers useful strategies for the treatment of depression.