Coue revisited: An Internet-based investigation of repetition and positive self-statements on depression, self-esteem, and automatic thoughts

The purpose of the present study was to extend research on using repetition and self-statements to influence depression and self-esteem scores by investigating repetition as a primary treatment variable. The Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SRDS) was used to identify 115 mild to moderately depressed volunteers who were randomly assigned to a control group or one of two treatment groups. The two treatment groups were instructed to read a computerized, online presentation of positive self-statements to themselves, one group for 10 min/day and the other group for 5 min/day, for a total of 21 days. Participants also completed the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSES), the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire & Positive Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire/Combined (ATQ & ATQ-P), and a Depression Stroop Test (DST) online.; A significant decrease in mean SRDS index scores, and a significant increase in mean RSES scores were found on all posttest scores for both treatment groups but not for control group, although treatment gains were not significantly different between the two repetition groups on any posttest. Significantly higher frequencies of positive self-statements and significantly lower frequencies of negative self-statements were shown on all posttest scores for both repetition groups but not for control group. Gains were not significantly different between the two repetition groups. For the DST, posttest response ratios between depressive content vs. neutral-content words were significantly smaller than pretest response ratios on all posttest scores in both treatment groups but not for control group, and there was a statistically significant difference between the two treatment groups on post-treatment assessment and follow-up.