Betrayal, depression and anxiety
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Betrayal, depression and anxiety: Do clinical populations show more significant incidences and impact of betrayal than non-clinical populations?
IRAS ID
147145
Contact name
Rowena Pagdin
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 1 days
Research summary
A number of case studies have been published giving examples of anxiety disorders (especially OCD) which had been resistant to treatment-as-usual. In these cases, betrayal was central to understanding each person’s psychological problems and adapting the treatment accordingly. This is a preliminary study to investigate a possible correlation between betrayal and psychopathology.
The study will measure self-reported incidents and impact of betrayal experienced by people in primary and secondary care being treated for OCD, anxiety or depression with a non-clinical group; and it will look at the correlation between the impact of betrayal and a number of other self-reported factors, such as self-esteem and interpersonal efficacy.
Four groups will be included in the study, three clinical groups (depression, OCD and anxiety) and one non-clinical control group. Clinical participants will be recruited from primary and secondary care psychological services, both NHS and Alternative Qualified Providers. The control group will be recruited through the University and convenience. Participant Identification Centres will provide clients meeting inclusion eligibility an information sheet asking them to contact the researcher if they would like to participate. Participants will also be recruited through advertisements on charity websites OCD-UK, Depression Alliance and Anxiety UK. Clinical participants will be eligible if they are currently seeking or undergoing treatment for depression, anxiety or OCD. Participants will be excluded if they have a current diagnosis of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder or substance abuse, or have had a diagnosis of psychosis/ bipolar disorder.
Once recruited, participants will be asked to complete the following questionnaires:
• Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9)
• Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment 7 (GAD-7)
• Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS)
• Vancouver Obsessional Compulsive Inventory – Mental Contamination (VOCI-MC)
• Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale
• Bitterness Measure
• Impact of Events Scale
• Betrayal Screening Scale
• Betrayal Impact ScaleThe results from the four groups will be compared and analysed.
REC name
Wales REC 3
REC reference
14/WA/1155
Date of REC Opinion
16 Oct 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion