Psychoaffective immaturity in psychiatric disorders

This study investigated the prevalence of psychoaffective immaturity and tested the hypothesis that it associated with bad prognosis. For 135 psychiatric patients meeting criteria for personality, neurotic, affective, substance use, or psychotic disorders emotional immaturity was rated using the 1985 diagnostic criteria of Doutheau, Dubertret, Moutin, and Barrois. 58 subjects (42.96%, 95% Confidence Interval: 34.61-51.31) were classified as immature. Scores of the Nonimmature and Immature groups were compared for the Beck Depression Inventory and the Professional and Social Functioning Assessment Scale. Scores were, respectively, significantly higher and lower in those patients classified as Immature than those who were classified Nonimmature. When depression was controlled by a covariance analysis, the mean difference on the Professional and Social Functioning Assessment Scale remained significant. It appears that psychoaffective immaturity is a factor associated with severity of psychiatric disorders.