title: Personality disorders in dysthymia and major depression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present study was to investigate the comorbidity of personality disorders in patients with primary dysthymia compared to those with episodic major depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 177 out-patients with primary dysthymia and 187 outpatients with episodic major depression were administered a structured diagnostic interview for DSM-III-R Axis II disorders. In addition, all of these patients completed the BDI, and those with the appropriate level of education also completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significantly higher proportion of dysthymic patients than patients with major depression met the criteria for a personality disorder, for borderline, histrionic, avoidant, dependent, self-defeating types and for personality disorders of clusters B and C. Further analysis revealed that the above differences were mainly due to the subgroup of patients with 'early-onset dysthymia'. Finally, patients with a personality disorder, both dysthymics and those with major depression, had significantly higher scores on the BDI and on the majority of the MMPI scales compared to those without a personality disorder.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data indicated that (i) dysthymia--mainly that of early onset--is associated with significantly higher personality disorder comorbidity than episodic major depression, and (ii) the presence of a personality disorder is related to more severe overall psychopathology.
authors.affiliation: Community Mental Health Center of the Northwestern District of Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garyfallos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adamopoulou
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karastergiou
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Voikli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sotiropoulou
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Donias
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Giouzepas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paraschos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications*; D019263:Dysthymic Disorder / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D018570:Risk Assessment