Personality differences between patients with remitted melancholic and nonmelancholic depression

Am J Psychiatry. 1990 Nov;147(11):1476-83. doi: 10.1176/ajp.147.11.1476.

Abstract

Seventy-five patients with remitted depression were categorized as having melancholic-endogenous or non-melancholic-nonendogenous depression according to DSM-III criteria, Research Diagnostic Criteria, and the Newcastle endogeneity scale. The patients' scores on four personality scales--the Eysenck Personality Inventory, the Interpersonal Dependency Inventory, locus of control, and the Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure--were then compared. Patients with nonmelancholic-nonendogenous depression were generally rated as having more vulnerable personality styles, but the differences were dependent on the particular diagnostic system used. A principal components analysis isolated three underlying personality constructs--dependency, introversion, and timidity. Patients with nonmelancholic-nonendogenous depression scored as significantly more dependent.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Dependency, Psychological
  • Depressive Disorder / classification
  • Depressive Disorder / diagnosis*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Introversion, Psychological
  • Male
  • Personality Inventory
  • Personality*
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Shyness