title: Personality profiles of patients with dysthymic and panic disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The research objective was to identify personality characteristics as well as similarities between, and differences in personality profiles of persons suffering from Dysthymic (DD) and Panic Disorder (with/without Agoraphobia) (PD/PDA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Three groups (N=120) were analysed: DD, PD/PDA, and a healthy control group, matched by socio-demographic characteristics and classified in sub-groups according to gender. Diagnoses were made using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV DD and PD/PDA, and the personality assessment was made using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 201 (MMPI-201).
  
  
  RESULTS
  MMPI-201 profile of DD and PD/PDA groups has been characterised by a global increase of "neurotic triad" scales (Depression-Hypochondriasis-Hysteria) (D-Hs-Hy), more expressed in the DD group. Sub-groups of women and men with DD, when compared to the healthy control group, have a significant (p<0.01) increase on the F, Hs, D, Pd, Pa, Pt and Sc scales, and sub-groups with PD/PDA a significant (p<0.01) increase on the F, Hs, D, Hy, Pa, Pt and Sc scales. Scores on the F, D, Hy, Hs, Pt, and Sc scales were significantly higher (p<0.05), as well as on the scale Pa (p<0.01) in men suffering from DD than in the PD/PDA sub-group. Women suffering from DD, when compared to the PD/PDA women, showed a significant increase (p<0.05) on the F and Hy scales.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Personality profiles of persons suffering from DD and PD/PDA are very similar, with differences being more dimensional than qualitative. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings have been discussed.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Psychiatry, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Pasterova 2, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia. doubleb@eunet.rs
authors.forename: Borjanka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Batinic
authors.forename: Biljana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Saula-Marojevic
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vukosavljevic-Gvozden
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019263:Dysthymic Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008950:MMPI; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D010551:Personality / Q000502:physiology*