Prevalence of personality disorders in patients with major depression and dysthymia

The authors administered the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R Axis I (SCID-P) and Axis II (SCID-II) Disorders to 197 patients with major depression, 63 patients with dysthymia, and 32 patients with both major depression and dysthymia ("double depression"). Fifty percent of major depressive patients, 52% of dysthymic patients, and 69% of patients with double depression were diagnosed as having at least one personality disorder. Patients with a personality disorder had higher scores on the Beck Anxiety and Depression Inventories. The most commonly diagnosed personality disorders were from the anxious/fearful cluster, most notably avoidant and dependent personality disorders.