Table 1 Overview of study variables and instruments

Depressive symptom severity (primary outcome)

Hamilton rating scale for depression

Diagnostics

Structured clinical interview for DSM-IV Axis I, II

Stressors

List of situational stressors

Additional indicators of mental health

Beck depression inventory II

Scales of psychological well-being

Pos. and neg. affect schedule

Short scales of affective states relevant for psychotherapy

SHARP/others

Brief symptom inventory

Depression anxiety and stress scale

Emotion regulation

Emotion reg. skills questionnaire

ERSQ- others

Emotion reg. skills questionnaire- emotion specific

ERSQ-ES- others

Difficulties in emotion reg. scale

Negative mood regulation scale

Trait meta-mood scale

Confounding variables

Self-efficacy scale

Multidim. perfectionism scale

Rosenberg self-esteem scale

Additional assessments

Ecological momentary assessment

Laboratory experiment

Hair steroids