Parental schemas in youngsters referred for antisocial behaviour problems demonstrating depressive symptoms

Based on schema theory, this study aimed to investigate parental schemas in a sample of depressed and non-depressed youngsters referred for antisocial behaviour problems and in a non-depressed non-referred control group. A sample of 82 children and adolescents (aged 8 - 18 years) filled out the Children's Depression Inventory and the Young Parenting Inventory Mother (YPI-Mother) and Father (YPI-Father). On both the YPI-Mother and the YPI-Father, differences between groups were situated in the schema domain disconnection/rejection. On the YPI-Mother the referred depressed group scored higher than both non-depressed groups for the maladaptive schema defectiveness/shame. On the YPI-Father, the referred depressed group scored higher than both non-depressed groups for the maladaptive schemas abandonment/ instability, emotional deprivation, and defectiveness/shame. Referred antisocial youngsters who demonstrate depressive symptoms perceive their parents as more cold, instable, unreliable, and unpredictable than do non-depressed controls. In treatment of antisocial youngsters the existence of a depressive subgroup characterized by specific parental schemas should be recognised.