Temperament, character and personality disorders as predictors of response to interpersonal psychotherapy and cognitive-behavioural therapy for depression.
BACKGROUND
Interpersonal psychotherapy and cognitive-behavioural therapy are widely accepted as effective treatments for major depression. There is little evidence on how personality disorder or personality traits affect treatment response.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether personality disorder or traits have an adverse impact on treatment response to interpersonal psychotherapy or cognitive-behavioural therapy in people receiving out-patient treatment for depression.


METHODS
The study was a randomised trial in a university-based clinical research unit for out-patients with depression.


RESULTS
Personality disorder did not adversely affect treatment response for patients with depression randomised to cognitive-behavioural therapy. Conversely, personality disorder did adversely affect treatment response for patients randomised to interpersonal psychotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the two therapies having comparable efficacy in patients with depression, response to interpersonal psychotherapy (but not cognitive-behavioural therapy) is affected by personality traits. This could suggest the two therapies are indicated for different patients or that they work by different mechanisms.
Joyce
Peter R
PR
Department of Psychological Medicine, Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, PO Box 4345, Christchurch, New Zealand. peter.joyce@chmeds.ac.nz
McKenzie
Janice M
JM
Carter
Janet D
JD
Rae
Alma M
AM
Luty
Suzanne E
SE
Frampton
Christopher M A
CM
Mulder
Roger T
RT
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D013694:Temperament; D016896:Treatment Outcome