Reliability and validity of depressive personality disorder

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• Depressive personality disorder (DPD) was controversial upon its introduction into DSM-IV's appendix.
• Existing data suggest DPD may be a reliable and valid diagnostic construct.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between depressive personality disorder and major depression, dysthymic disorder, and other personality disorders.
• To characterize subjects with DPD based on axis I and axis II disorders, family history, and treatment history.

Main Methods:

• 54 subjects with early-onset, long-standing mild depressive features were assessed for DPD, axis I and II disorders, and family/treatment history.
• Subjects were followed up for 1 year to assess diagnostic stability.
• Comparison was made between subjects with (N=30) and without (N=24) DPD.

Main Results:

• 63% of subjects with DPD did not have dysthymia, and 60% did not have current major depression, indicating incomplete overlap with mood disorders.
• While subjects with DPD were more likely to have another personality disorder, 40% did not.
• Family history of mood disorders did not differ between groups; however, subjects with DPD had longer psychotherapy duration.

Conclusions:

• Depressive personality disorder appears to be a relatively stable diagnosis.
• DPD shows incomplete diagnostic overlap with axis I mood disorders and other personality disorders.
• Further research is required to elucidate DPD's treatment response and its precise relationship with axis I mood disorders.