The Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ) and the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) have been suggested as vulnerability markers for depression. One- hundred forty clinically depressed subjects(CD), previously depressed subjects(PD) and never depressed (ND) controls completed the YSQ, the TCI and the Beck Depression Inventory. Results showed that CD and PD differed significantly on early maladaptive schemas, temperament and character traits compared with ND. In accordance with previous research, higher levels of harm avoidance and lower levels of self-directedness were found in CD and in recovered PD. Moreover, CD and PD showed substantial variability in the scores on the YSQ and the TCI when controlling for concurrent depression severity. In multiple regression analyses, YSQ domain scales of disconnection, impaired autonomy, restricted self-expression and impaired limits emerged as significant predictors of depression severity. Likewise, as concerns TCI higher order scales, high harm avoidance, low self-directedness and high persistence emerged as significant predictors of depression severity. Harm avoidance was positively related to several early maladaptive schemas (EMSs), whereas self-directedness was negatively related to a majority of the EMSs. Our findings indicate the presence of maladaptive personality characteristics in CD and PD. Longitudinal studies are needed to establish their causal role in relation to first-onset and recurrent depression.
Key practitioner message: *Early maladaptive schemas, high harm [correction made here after initial online publication] avoidance and low self-directedness may be a part of vulnerability to depression. *The finding of these personality characteristics in subjects recovered from depression indicates malfunctioning to some degree. *Addressing such characteristics in therapy should be considered in order to prevent and treat depression from its relapsing and recurring course.