Millon multiaxial personality patterns differentiate depressed and anxiousoutpatients

Ninety-three patients, including 47 patients with Generalized Anxiety Disor der (GAD) and 46 patients with Major Depression (MD), were entered into rec ent clinical trials. Clinicians acknowledge that during the initial screeni ng process, clear separation between depressed and anxious patients may be difficult. By wing the DSM-IV criteria, the Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Scales, and a variety of other structured evaluations, patients were divid ed into the two diagnostic groups. The Millon Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI-II I) was administered to all 93 patients as part of their initial assessment, beet was not used in the diagnostic decision making process or in assignme nt to a particular clinical study. Upon completion of these studies, the Mi llon data were analyzed utilizing a cutoff score of 75; conforming to previ ew studies. Statistically significant differences in Millon personality pat terns between MD and GAD patients included dependent, obsessive-compulsive, self-defeating, and borderline traits. Patients exhibiting dependent, self -defeating, and borderline patterns were statistically more likely to be in cluded in clinical trials of MD rather than GAD. Also, patients with MD wer e more likely to disclose clinical information and exhibit self-critical be havior when compared to those with GAD. These results suggest that the MCMI -III may detect personality differences between anxious and depressed outpa tients presenting for clinical trials. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.