title: Diagnostic specificity of the dependent and self-critical personality dimensions in major depression.
abstract: Validational studies of self-critical and dependent personality dimensions as vulnerability factors for depression have been tested primarily with depressed samples, employing research designs devised to address state vs. trait and trait-situational congruity issues. In this study we examined the diagnostic specificity to depression of these two personality dimensions, comparing Self-Criticism and Dependency scores as measured by the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire (DEQ) in two samples of outpatients: (1) panic disorder with agoraphobia; and (2) non-psychotic, unipolar major depression. As hypothesized, the two groups differed on Self-Criticism, with the depressed group scoring higher, but no differences were found for Dependency. These findings were similar even when depressed mood was partialed out. These results complement a growing body of research associating Self-Criticism, as specifically measured by the DEQ, with depression.
authors.affiliation: Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bagby
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Schuller
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Levitt
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Swinson
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Joffe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003859:Dependent Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012649:Self Concept