The validity of the ICD-10 classification of recurrent affective disorders: Do endogenous and psychogenic depressions form a homogeneous diagnostic group?

Fifty-five hospital-treated patients with the ICD-10 diagnosis of 'recurren t depressive episode(s)' were classified according to the Newcastle Depress ive Diagnostic Scale as having either psychogenic (n = 25) or endogenous (n = 30) depression and interviewed using several inventories on personality and psychopathology (Composite International Diagnostic Interview, Symptom Check List, Inventory of Interpersonal Problems, IIP, NEO Five-Factor Perso nality Inventory, Social Adjustment Scale, Questionnaire of the Motivation to Seek Psychotherapy). Except for the IIP, individual subscales disclosed significant differences between the two groups. In light of these results, the grouping of these two disorders into one diagnostic group in the ICD-10 is critically discussed. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.