CLINICAL AND PERSONALITY-CORRELATES OF OUTCOME IN DEPRESSIVE-DISORDERS IN A TURKISH SAMPLE

Effects of clinical and personality traits on the course of depression were investigated after a mean period of 30 months. 66 out of 119 dep ressive patients (according to DSM-III-R and ICD-10 diagnostic criteri a) were re-assessed by the same clinicians of the index episode. Sched ule for Standardized Assessment of Depressive Disorders (SADD) was the main instrument for the initial phase; the follow-up schedule of SADD was used for the second phase. In both phases personality was evaluat ed by Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ). Severity of the disorde r was assessed by Beck Depression Inventory. We found a chronicity rat e of 9.1%, recurrence rate of 31.8%. Common features of chronic depres sives were female sex, being over 30 years of age, gradual and late on set, presence of anxiety and multiple life events. EPQ results of the subjects who were free of depression were compared at the follow-up as sessment. The remitted recurrent depression group showed significantly lower neuroticism scores than remitted single depression group. 'Neur otic depression' subgroup was significantly associated with higher neu roticism scores. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.