Background and purpose: Attending to maltreatment is very important since it could have strong influence on different dimensions of personal and social life. The aim of this study was to predict major depression disorder based on childhood psychological maltreatment caused by maladaptive schemas and difficulties in emotion regulation.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed in 300 patients with major depression disorder attending Sediq Psychiatry Center in Lorestan Province. They were selected by convenience sampling in November 2014 to February 2015. Data Data was collected using a demographic questionnaire, Psychological maltreatment Inventory (AMI-24), Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ-75), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-36), and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D-24). 

Results: A positive significant relationship was found between psychological maltreatment and maladaptive schemas (a=0.01) (r=0.41, P<0.01) and difficulties in emotion regulation (a=0.05) (r=0.13, P<0.05). But there was no significant relationship between depression and psychological maltreatment (a=0.05) (r=0.11, P>0.05). Path analysis indicated that psychological maltreatment by the mediating role of maladaptive schemas and difficulties in emotion regulation could predict depression (P<0.01). Also, path of the psychological maltreatment to depression was not found to be significant (P>0. 05).

Conclusion: Considering the significant role of childhood psychological maltreatment by the mediating role of maladaptive schemas and difficulties in emotion regulation on predicting depression, clinical specialists are recommended to design appropriate clinical trials or modify current interventions.