Early deficient parenting in depressed outpatients is associated with personality dysfunction and not with depression subtypes

Background: We investigated the associations between recollected levels of parental care and current symptomatology, axis I and axis II comorbidity an d family psychiatric history in 248 depressed outpatients. Methods: The sam ple was divided into three approximately equal groups according to PBI scor es. Current symptomatology was assessed with the SCL-90, SAS and HAM-17. Ax is I and axis II comorbidity were assessed with the SCID-P and SCID-II resp ectively. Results: Deficient parenting was not associated with melancholia, age of onset or severity of depression. Significant linear associations we re found for recurrent depression, comorbid substance disorder, current sym ptomatology and, of most significance, personality disorders. Conclusion: P ersonality dysfunction may mediate the relation between early parental depr ivation and adult psychopathology. Limitations: Possible limitations includ e retrospective recall of parental care and the state effects of depression on assessment. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.