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.
Pepper
C M
CM
Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Stony Brook 11794-2500.
Klein
D N
DN
Anderson
R L
RL
Riso
L P
LP
Ouimette
P C
PC
Lizardi
H
H
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