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Robotically Delivered fMRI-Guided Personalized Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression
Published on: April 10, 2026
Personality and self-reported treatment effectiveness in depression.
Gordon Parker1, Joanna Crawford
1Black Dog Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia. g.parker@unsw.edu.au
The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
|May 15, 2009
Summary
Personality traits like self-criticism were weakly linked to depression treatment effectiveness. Further research is needed to clarify the association between self-criticism and poor treatment response.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Depression treatment effectiveness varies significantly among individuals.
- Understanding factors influencing treatment response is crucial for personalized medicine.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between eight personality styles and self-reported effectiveness of various depression treatments.
- To determine if personality traits predict treatment outcomes across pharmacological, psychological, and alternative therapies.
Main Methods:
- An online survey collected data from 2692 individuals with a history of depression treatment.
- The Temperament and Personality Questionnaire assessed eight personality dimensions.
- Linear regressions analyzed associations between personality, demographics, and treatment effectiveness.
Main Results:
- Personality dimensions explained only 1-7% of the variance in self-reported treatment effectiveness.
- Self-criticism was associated with poorer response to most treatments.
- Social avoidance correlated with reduced effectiveness of psychological and behavioral therapies.
Conclusions:
- The link between personality style and depression treatment response is generally weak.
- The association between self-criticism and poor treatment outcomes requires further investigation.
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