Dimension of Typus melancholicus on Kasahara's Inventory for the Melancholic Type Personality.
BACKGROUND
Traditionally, Typus melancholicus (TM) was considered, a priori, to represent unidimensionality. Recent studies have suggested that TM is not a personality trait, but rather a constellation of personality traits. The purpose of this study was to examine whether TM on Kasahara's Inventory for the Melancholic Type Personality (KIMTP), considered to represent one of the valid TM questionnaires, is comprised of personality dimensions, and if so, which dimension is essential for distinguishing depressive subjects from control subjects.


METHODS
To clarify the dimensionality of TM scores on KIMTP, factor analysis of the TM scores was conducted using principal factor analysis followed by varimax rotation. Comparisons were then made between endogenous depressive patients (n = 38), nonendogenous depressive patients (n = 20), and healthy volunteers (n = 81) for total KIMTP score and factor scores using analysis of covariance, adjusting for sex and age.


RESULTS
Factor analysis of KIMTP revealed 2 distinct clusters of items, i.e. 'harmony in personal relationships' (factor 1) and 'social norms' (factor 2). Endogenous and nonendogenous depressive patients showed significantly higher KIMTP total and factor 1 scores than did control subjects. However, no significant differences were observed for KIMTP total score and scores of individual factors between endogenous and nonendogenous depressive patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The present results indicate that TM on KIMTP represents a constellation of personality traits, and that the factor 'harmony in personal relationship' possesses the essential meaning for assessing TM.
Ueki
Hirofumi
H
Gifu University School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan. uekih@cc.gifu-u.ac.jp
Holzapfel
Christian
C
Sakado
Kaoru
K
Washino
Kaei
K
Inoue
Masato
M
Ogawa
Naoshi
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires