Psychological test characteristics of depressed and panic patients

This study compared the psychological test performance of patients with major depression (MD) (n = 23), patients with panic disorder (PD) (n = 20), and normal subjects (n = 24). Results indicated that scores of normal subjects were significantly less pathological than those of both patient groups on almost all psychological test scales, but that the test performance of the two patient groups did not differ. The only difference between the two patient groups was on the level of self-reported and observer-rated depression. Both patient groups exhibited significant personality pathology, and the rate of personality disorders diagnosed by the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) (base rate greater than 84) was 73% for PD patients and 86% for MD patients. The problems of assessing personality during episodes of MD and PD and the possible overdiagnosis of personality disorders by the MCMI are discussed.