[Depressive symptoms and personality characteristics: phenomenology of affective disorders]

Our study aimed to evaluate the relationship between different patterns of symptoms and personality characteristics in a group of 100 patients diagnosed with depression.

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory was used as the personality descriptor by the adoption of a multiaxial interpretative technique (Diamond's Axes). These descriptive variables were correlated with the symptoms referred to by the patients and subsequently underwent factor analysis, the method used for the principal components.

Four "types" of patients were identified as "different" for symptoms and personality descriptors. In particular, the most important correlations were: anxiety and development of somatic symptoms; low self confidence and autistic behaviour; anger and impulsive behaviour; aggressive behaviour.

Our results show the relevance of underlying personality characteristics in the presence of depressive symptoms. This relationship seems relevant also for the prediction of likely complications.