PREMORBID PSYCHOMETRIC PROFILE OF SUBJECTS AT HIGH FAMILIAL RISK FOR AFFECTIVE-DISORDER

Background, Recent observations indicate that a certain pre-morbid per sonality profile ('autonomic lability', i.e. elevated neuroticism, fre quent somatic complaints and increased interpersonal sensitivity) appe ars to be a valid antecedent of major depression. However, most of the se prospective studies used samples drawn from the general population, which limits the power of any observed differences between subjects w ho developed a depressive disorder during the follow-up period and tho se who did not. Methods. We investigated the psychometric profile of 5 4 high-risk probands (aged between 18 years and 45 years) without a cu rrent or lifetime diagnosis of any psychiatric disorder, but who had f irst-degree relatives with an affective disorder according to DSM-III- R criteria. Twenty-two control probands, matched for age and gender an d without any personal or family history of psychiatric disorders, ser ved as the reference group. Results, As a group, the high-risk proband s scored higher than the controls on scales that assessed neuroticism, rigidity, depressive cognitions, vegetative lability and stress. With an individual-orientated approach (cluster analysis), 30 high-risk pr obands were identified as conspicuous, characterized by elevated rigid ity and increased 'autonomic lability'. The remaining 24 high-risk pro bands showed a psychometric profile very similar to that of the contro ls. Conclusions. The present findings in 54 probands at high risk for affective disorders not only strongly underline the assumption that th e personality trait 'autonomic lability' is a valid antecedent of at l east major depression, but also add the personality trait 'rigidity' a s a further and potential candidate for a true vulnerability marker fo r affective disorders.