ABSTRACT
Persistent Depression Disorder (PDD) is maintained by two pathological core problems the patient has not been able to resolve. The first problem is a pervasive fear-avoidance state which stems from a history of early-developmental maltreatment. Most patients will produce a peak Impact Message Inventory (IMI) score on the hostile-submissive (H-S) octant. H-S denotes an interpersonal style whereby patients maintain interpersonal distance from practitioners. The second problem is the perceptual disconnection from the interpersonal environment PDD patients bring to treatment meaning that others don not have any informing influence on the patient's behavior. Behavior remains unchanged over time when patients are not influenced by either positive or negative feedback, another way to say that chronic patients live in a perpetual circle of sameness. The goals of Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP) is to teach to modify their interpersonal behavior first with the therapist and then with others; and then learn how to use the interpersonal relationship in salubrious ways.
