Major depression with and without a coexisting anxiety disorder: social dysfunction, social integration, and...

Twenty-two inpatients with an acute major depression without an additional lifetime DSM-III axis I diagnosis were compared with 20 inpatients suffering from an acute major depression with a coexistent anxiety disorder. The comparisons focused on social dysfunction, social support, and premorbid personality features. Characteristics of provoking life events and chronic conditions of life during the year before the index admission were analyzed exploratively. Major depressives with an anxiety disorder reported a higher number of abnormal premorbid personality traits such as neuroticism and a tendency towards social isolation; they had fewer confidants and lived alone more frequently than pure major depressives. Furthermore, pure major depressives reported more non-illness-related chronic burdening conditions during the year before the onset of depression than did major depressives with an anxiety disorder. However, there were no differences between the patient groups as to social dysfunction. The results point to fewer personal and social resources of the comorbidity group.