Personality disorders and outcome of inpatient treatment for depression: a 1-year prospective follow-up study

J Pers Disord. 2013 Oct;27(5):636-51. doi: 10.1521/pedi_2012_26_052. Epub 2012 Aug 28.

Abstract

This study examines the relationship of personality disorders (PDs) with the outcome of an inpatient treatment for depression. One hundred sixty-eight inpatients with unipolar depression (41% with PD according to SCID-II) were assessed at admission, discharge, and 1-year follow-up. Patients without as well as with PD showed a significant and comparable intake-to-discharge symptom reduction in all inventories. At posttreatment, patients with PD scored higher in self-report measures of symptom severity (Brief Symptom Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory) than patients without PD, due to their higher symptom levels at intake. However, there was no difference in clinician-rated therapy outcome (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression [17-item version], Global Assessment of Functioning Scale, Clinical Global Impression Scale) between both patient groups at discharge. At 1-year follow-up, patients without PD maintained their treatment outcome, whereas patients with PD showed a slight increase in symptom severity, compared to discharge. The results suggest that a difference in acute treatment outcome between depressed patients with and without PD may be found using self-ratings but not expert ratings of symptom severity. Furthermore, the importance of subsequent outpatient treatment that takes into account the special needs of depressed patients with comorbid PD is highlighted.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / psychology
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / therapy*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Personality Disorders / complications*
  • Personality Inventory
  • Prospective Studies
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Treatment Outcome