DSM-III-R axis II comorbidity in dysthymia and major depression.
OBJECTIVE
Dysthymia is generally believed to be associated with a high rate of DSM-III-R axis II comorbidity. However, it is unclear whether this rate is higher than that for other axis I disorders, how many dysthymic patients have personality disorders, and what the most common co-occurring axis II conditions are.


METHODS
Ninety-seven outpatients with early-on-set dysthymia and 45 with episodic major depression were administered structured diagnostic interviews for axis I and II disorders. In addition, knowledgeable informants were independently interviewed about axis II conditions in the patients.


RESULTS
A significantly greater proportion of dysthymic patients (60%) than patients with episodic major depression (18%) met criteria for a personality disorder. The most common axis II conditions among dysthymic patients were borderline, histrionic, and avoidant personality disorder. Informants' reports yielded similar results.


CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate that early-onset dysthymia is associated with significantly greater axis II comorbidity than episodic major depression. Further work is necessary to elucidate the processes underlying this association.
Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Stony Brook 11794-2500.
C M
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Pepper
D N
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Klein
R L
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Anderson
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Riso
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Ouimette
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Lizardi
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006677:Histrionic Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012008:Recurrence; D012107:Research Design