Predictors of stable personality disorder diagnoses in outpatients with remitted depression

This study examined the stability of comorbid personality disorder diagnoses once an outpatient's depression remitted. The sample consisted of 75 outpatients who responded to treatment in an 8-week acute treatment phase for depression, who met criteria for remission throughout a 26-week continuation phase, and who completed a personality assessment (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R-axis II Disorders) at the beginning and at the end of each treatment phase. The authors found that after a major depressive disorder is successfully treated, personality disorder diagnoses remain stable across time during continuation treatment. Gender was the only potential predictor variable that was significant: the proportion of men who had a stable personality disorder diagnosis in cluster A or cluster B was significantly greater than the proportion of women who had a stable personality disorder diagnosis in these two clusters. Among women, those with any stable personality disorder had a significantly longer duration of the current major depressive disorder compared with those who never met criteria for any personality disorder; this was also true for women with a cluster C personality disorder diagnosis.