Personality as a determinant of social functioning in depression.
BACKGROUND
The Social Adaptation Self-Evaluation Scale (SASS) is an instrument for measuring drive-based aspects of social functioning and has been used in trials of antidepressants. It has been suggested that social adaptation may be akin to a personality trait. We investigated the personality dimensions of neuroticism and extraversion as determinants of social functioning measured by SASS in patients with depression.


METHODS
Patients seen at a tertiary mood disorders unit were assessed using SASS, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), Inventory of Depressive Symptoms-Self-Rated (IDS-SR) and Mood Disorders Questionnaire (MDQ).


RESULTS
In a sample of 80 depressed outpatients, we found that extraversion made the largest unique contribution to social functioning followed by self-rated severity of depression. Neuroticism and other clinical and demographic variables were not significant predictors.


CONCLUSIONS
Social functioning as measured by SASS is predicted by extraversion and severity of depression. Personality traits should be taken into account when assessing social functioning in depression.
Ranjith
Gopinath
G
Affective Disorders Unit, Bethlem Royal Hospital, Beckenham BR3 3BX, UK.
Farmer
Anne
A
McGuffin
Peter
P
Cleare
Anthony J
AJ
D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000928:Antidepressive Agents