Personality and self-reported treatment effectiveness in depression.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to examine the associations between eight personality styles and retrospective self-reported response to a wide range of treatments for depression, including pharmacological, psychological and alternative strategies.


METHODS
An online survey posted on the Black Dog Institute website was completed by 3486 respondents reporting a history of treatment for depression. Inclusion criteria resulted in a sample of 2692 respondents. Participants completed the Temperament and Personality Questionnaire, which assesses eight personality dimensions: anxious worrying, perfectionism, personal reserve, irritability, social avoidance, rejection sensitivity, self-criticism and self-focus.


RESULTS
A series of linear regressions quantified that the personality dimensions--as well as age and gender--accounted for very little of the variance in self-reported treatment effectiveness (1-7%). Self-criticism was associated with a poorer response to most treatments, and social avoidance was associated with a poorer response to psychological treatments (e.g. cognitive behaviour therapy) and behavioural strategies (e.g. exercise). Several other weak associations are reported.


CONCLUSIONS
The association between personality style and retrospective self-reported treatment response was overall weak at most. The association between a personality style of self-criticism and poor treatment response warrants clarification.
Black Dog Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia. g.parker@unsw.edu.au
Gordon
G
Parker
Joanna
J
Crawford
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007508:Irritable Mood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012059:Rejection, Psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013694:Temperament; D055815:Young Adult
D000928:Antidepressive Agents