[Hysteroform depressions in young female patients]

To study the features of the psychopathological structure of depression in young women with hysteroform symptoms, as well as the features of auto-aggressive non-suicidal and suicidal behavior in these conditions.

The results of a clinical/psychopathological examination of 50 female adolescent patients, aged 16 to 25 years, with endogenous depressions with one of the following ICD-10 diagnosis: (F31.3-4, F34.0, F21.3-4 + F31.3-4, F60.X + F31.3-4) and prevail of hysteroform symptoms in the form of conversion/dissociative disorders in their clinical picture were analyzed.

Depression was characterized by an acute onset due to a traumatic situation represented by difficulties in personal or family relationships (36%, n=18), bereavement reactions (28%, n=14) and problems in school/work (22%, n=11). The depressive triad had an erased character, the thymic component was represented by a variable character of affect with a predominance of dysphoria (38%, n=19) and anxiety (32%, n=16). The ideational component of the triad was detected in 50% of cases (n=25), while in 38% (n=19) there was ideational acceleration. In 44% of cases (n=22), dissociative disorders were noted in the form of delusional fantasizing, represented by symptoms close to the «multiple personality» phenomenon. Often there were obsessional disorders (58%, n=29), anxiety-phobic symptoms in the form of panic attacks (46%, n=23), isolated phobias (28%, n=14), social phobias (30%, n=15). In 40% of cases (n=20) the formation of overvalued hypochondriacal ideas was noted. Non-suicidal self-harm occurred in 41 patients (82%), in 42% of cases (n=21) the patients made suicide attempts that were distinguished by a low danger to life.

Hysteroform depressions in girls are characterized by polymorphism of the psychopathological structure, erosion of the depressive triad, originality of the clinical picture of dissociative disorders, presence of comorbid disorders, and frequent, but with a low danger to life suicidal attempts.