Degree of Cognitive Distortions and Level of Depression in Bulimic Patients

Abstract

A descriptive correlation design was used to study the relationship between the degree of cognitive distortions and the level of depression in bulimic patients. The theoretical framework was based on Beck's (1976) cognitive theory of depression. Beck viewed symptoms of depression as consequences of distorted thought processes. The instruments that were used to measure the study variables were the General Cognitive Error Questionnaire (Lefebvre, 1981) and the Beck Depression Inventory (Beck, Rush, Shaw, & Emery, 1979). The hypotheses for the study predicted that there would be a positive relationship between the degree of cognitive distortions and the level of depression in bulimic patients. The Pearson r was used to determine if a statistically significant relationship existed between degree of cognitive distortions and level of depression. Data analysis revealed that there was a significant relationship, r(28) =.586, r² = .343, p > .001, between the degree of cognitive distortions and level of depression in this study of 30 bulimic patients.