PREMORBID PERSONALITY-TRAITS AND PSYCHOSOMATIC BACKGROUND FACTORS IN DEPRESSION - THE LUNDBY STUDY 1957-1972

The search for specific predepressive personality factors has a long t radition in psychiatry. Studies in which assessments were made prospec tively, before the onset of a first-ever episode of the illness, are, however, rare. In the present report from the Lundby Study we have inv estigated premorbid, mainly personality-related background factors for first incidences of depressive disorder, diagnosed according to the L undby criteria for 'Depression proper' and 'Depression plus other psyc hiatric symptoms'. The items found to be of a predictive value differe d between the two diagnostic subgroups and also between men and women. The findings are discussed and compared with earlier predictor studie s on depression.