Befriending as an intervention for chronic depression among women in an inner city

BACKGROUND: Volunteer befriending promoted remission of chronic depression when clinical and other treatment variables were controlled. AIMS: To examine the role of other psychosocial factors relevant for outcome. METHOD: Factors measured at baseline interview were examined in multivariate analyses along with psychosocial factors occurring during follow-up, such as 'fresh-start' experiences and new severe events and difficulties. RESULTS: Fresh-start experiences and a standard attachment style were found to enhance chances of remission, with new severe stressors and markedly poor coping strategies liable to prevent it, with volunteer befriending continuing to play a role. CONCLUSIONS: The positive result reported in the preceding paper is unlikely to be an artefact. However, fresh-start experiences, absence of new severe stressors and standard attachment style were more important predictors of remission. This knowledge might profitably be incorporated into the evaluation of existing treatments.