Neuroticism: a vulnerability marker for depression evidence from a family study.
BACKGROUND
We investigated the relationship between depressive illness and personality traits from the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI) using data from a family study.


METHODS
The first-degree relatives of a series of 89 probands with RDC major depression (MD) were subdivided by their lifetime RDC diagnosis into: (1) relatives recovered from MD (n = 34); (2) never-ill relatives (n = 45). The neuroticism (N) and extraversion (E) scores of these two groups were compared using a multilevel linear model, allowing for potential confounders. The relationship between age of onset and recurrence of MD and N scores in group 1 was also examined.


RESULTS
(1) Raised N scores were associated with a past history of major depression. (2) There was no such relationship for E scores. (3) Current depressive symptoms were also associated with an increased N score but this did not explain the relationship between previous major depression and N scores. (4) Recurrent episodes of major depression in the recovered MD relatives were significantly associated with increased N scores.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that raised N may be a vulnerability marker for major depression.
Duggan
C
C
University of Nottingham Department of Psychiatry, Mapperley Hospital, UK.
Sham
P
P
Lee
A
A
Minne
C
C
Murray
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D005120:Extraversion, Psychological; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010641:Phenotype; D011594:Psychometrics; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors