Successful ER skills application, depressive and anxiety symptom severity were assessed four times during the first three weeks of treatment in 175 inpatients meeting criteria for MOD (51% suffered from a comorbid anxiety disorder). Based on Structural Equation Modelling, we used latent change score models to test whether ER skills predict subsequent reduction of depressive and anxiety symptoms. In secondary explorative analyses we investigated which specific ER skills predict subsequent changes in psychopathology.
Throughout the course of treatment, increasing ER skills were associated with decreases in depressive symptom severity. However, general ER skills did not significantly predict subsequent changes in anxiety disorders. Additional explorative analyses suggest that tolerance, readiness to confront distressing situations and compassionate self-support are significantly associated with subsequent changes in depressive symptom severity. Although general ER skills might be relevant for a broad range of psychopathological symptoms they might be particularly important for the maintenance of depressive symptoms.