Cognition and coping in agoraphobia and depression: A multivariate approach

A multivariate strategy for the cognitive study of overlapping symptom disorders is presented and exemplified by an empirical investigation. Inpatients who met DSM-III-R criteria for anxiety and/or unipolar depressive disorders were assessed on 13 agoraphobic and depressive symptom subscales. Factor analyses of these scales were performed and yielded an agoraphobic and a depressive factor. The patients (N = 117) completed the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scales, the Attributional Style Questionnaire, and the Ways of Coping Check List. Stepwise regression analyses were performed with the cognitive and coping variables as independent variables. The externalizing of mental health locus of control to chance was the only significant predictor of agoraphobia factor score. Attributional variables were the only consistent predictors of depression factor score.