title: Assessing and interpreting personality change and continuity in patients treated for major depression.
abstract: Structural, mean- and individual-level, differential, and ipsative personality continuity were examined in 599 patients treated for major depression assigned to 1 of 6 forms of a 6-month pharmaco-psychotherapy program. Covariation among traits from the Five Factor model remained invariant across treatment, and patients described themselves as slightly more extraverted, open to experience, agreeable and conscientious, and substantially more emotional stable after treatment. Trait changes were only to a small extent explained by changes in depression severity. There was evidence for differential, individual-level, and ipsative stability, with stable personality profiles in terms of shape and to a lesser extent in terms of scatter and elevation. Traits remain relatively stable, except for emotional stability, despite the depressive state and the psychopharmacological interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. Filip.DeFruyt@ugent.be
authors.forename: Filip
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Fruyt
authors.forename: Karla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Van Leeuwen
authors.forename: R Michael
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bagby
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Rolland
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rouillon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011613:Psychotherapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents