Seasonal and non-seasonal depression and the five-factor model of personality.
The purpose of this study was to compare the personality characteristics of patients with non-psychotic, major depression, seasonal subtype (SAD) to patients with non-psychotic, major depression, without seasonality (non-SAD). The patients were consecutive referrals to a university-affiliated mood disorders outpatient clinic. The personality characteristics were assessed using the five-factor model of personality (FFM) as measured by the revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-R). Patients were assessed during the acute depressive episode. Controlling for severity of depression, differences were found on only one of the five dimensions, with the SAD patients (n = 43) scoring significantly higher on the Openness dimension than non-SAD patients (n = 57). Based on these results we infer SAD patients may represent a psychologically distinct subgroup of depressed patients-more imaginative, more emotionally sensitive and likely to entertain unconventional ideas than non-SAD patients. This personality constellation may explain why individuals with SAD are more sensitive to and may amplify the mild dysphoria typically associated with winter months.
Bagby
R M
RM
University of Toronto, Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, Ontario, Canada. bagbym@cs.clarke-inst.on.ca
Schuller
D R
DR
Levitt
A J
AJ
Joffe
R T
RT
Harkness
K L
KL
D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010551:Personality; D010555:Personality Inventory; D010789:Phototherapy; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016574:Seasonal Affective Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy