DOES MAJOR DEPRESSION RESULT IN LASTING PERSONALITY-CHANGE

Objective: Individuals with a history of depression are characterized by high levels of certain personality traits, particularly neuroticism , introversion, and interpersonal dependency. The authors examined the ''scar hypothesis,'' i.e., the possibility that episodes of major dep ression result in lasting personality changes that persist beyond reco very from the depression. Method: A large sample of first-degree relat ives, spouses, and comparison subjects ascertained in connection with the proband sample from the National Institute of Mental Health Collab orative Program on the Psychobiology of Depression were assessed at tw o points in time separated by an interval of 6 years. Subjects with a prospectively observed first episode of major depression during the in terval were compared with subjects remaining well in terms of change f rom time 1 to time 2 in self-reported personality traits. All subjects studied were well (had no mental disorders) at the time of both asses sments. Results: There was no evidence of negative change from premorb id to postmorbid assessment in any of the personality traits for subje cts with a prospectively observed first episode of major depression du ring the interval. The results suggested a possible association of num ber and length of episodes with increased levels of emotional reliance and introversion, respectively. Conclusions: The findings suggest tha t self-reported personality traits do not change after a typical episo de of major depression. Future studies are needed to determine whether such change occurs following more severe, chronic, or recurrent episo des of depression.