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Personality patterns and outcome in depressive and bipolar disorders
A Heerlein1, P Richter, M Gonzalez
1Department of Psychiatry, Universidad de Chile, Santiago.
Psychopathology
|March 21, 1998
Summary
Specific personality traits significantly impact mood disorder outcomes. Introversion negatively affects unipolar depression, while extraversion and rigidity show positive effects. Neuroticism worsens bipolar disorder prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Clinical Neuroscience
Background:
- Personality traits and disorders profoundly influence mood disorder trajectories.
- Previous research on personality's impact on depressive and bipolar disorders yields controversial results, necessitating more specific trait assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify specific personality traits influencing the outcome and clinical course of unipolar endogenous depression and bipolar disorder.
- To utilize the Munich Personality test (MP-T) for detailed personality assessment.
Main Methods:
- Assessed 6 unipolar depressives and 6 bipolar patients using DSM III-R and ICD 10 criteria.
- Administered MP-T self- and family-reporting scales for premorbid personality profiling.
- Correlated outcome scores after three years with personality profiles.
Main Results:
- Introversion negatively impacted unipolar melancholic depression outcome.
- Extraversion, esoteric tendencies, and rigidity positively influenced unipolar depression outcome.
- Neuroticism negatively affected bipolar disorder outcome but not unipolar endogenous depression.
Conclusions:
- The diagnostic distinction between bipolar disorder, endogenous, and nonendogenous depression is crucial for prognosis.
- Specific personality traits play a significant role in the prognosis of different depressive syndromes.
- Understanding personality's role is vital for mood disorder research and clinical practice.