A comparison of self-concept and personality disorders in women with pain accounted for by psychological factors, women with major depression, and healthy controls.
OBJECTIVE
Do patients with pain accounted for by psychological factors (P) differ in their self-concept and personality disorders from patients with major depression (D) and healthy controls (C)?


METHODS
Thirty hospitalized P-patients (DSM-IV, 307.80) and 30 hospitalized D-Patients (DSM-III-R) were given the Beck Depression Inventory on admission (BDI-1) and at discharge (BDI-2). Together with BDI-2, patients filled out the Personality Disorder Questionnaire for DSM-III-R (PDQR) and the Frankfurt Self-Concept Scales (FSKN). Thirty-two healthy comparisons (C) completed the same questionnaires.


RESULTS
BDI-2 showed no significant differences between groups P and D, a prerequisite for the comparison of psychological traits. PDQR differed in the three groups. D showed more dependent, obsessive-compulsive, and histrionic personality features than group P. The three groups differed in FSKN total score and all 10 subscales (C (healthiest self-concept) > P > D). Groups P and D were different (P > D) in total score and subscales: performance, problem coping, confidence in behavior and decision taking, and self-esteem. Ten P-patients with pathological BDI-2 (P(D)) had significantly more disturbed PDQR and FSKN scores than the non-depressed (P(ND)), and closely resembled the D-patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Personality disorders and self-concept are not homogenous in female patients with P. Subgroup P(ND) differs from patients with depression (fewer personality disorders, better self-concept), whereas subgroup P(D) closely resembles them.
Zlot
S I
SI
University of Geneva, Switzerland.
Herrmann
M
M
Hofer-Mayer
T
T
Adler
M
M
Adler
R H
RH
D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires