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Objective: The first objective of this brief report is to examine the relationships between levels of interpersonal sensitivity and dimensions of personality, depression severity and early relationship with parents. An additional objective is to examine the differences between levels of interpersonal sensitivity in depressive subtypes., Method: One hundred and fifty four patients completed the Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure [IPSM], the Temperament and Character Inventory [TCI], and the Parental Bonding Instrument [PBI]. Other measures including Hamilton Depression Rating Scale [HDRS], DSM-IV atypical symptoms and DSM-IV melancholic symptoms were obtained using clinician rating scales., Results: There were strong Pearson correlations between both the total and subscale scores of the IPSM and both temperament and character scores of the TCI. A joint principal components analysis isolated two main underlying constructs, both consisting of IPSM and TCI subscales. Patients with rejection sensitivity, an aspect of atypical depression, scored higher on the IPSM and three of its subscales, but there were no other differences in score by subtype., Conclusions: Both the IPSM and dimensions of the TCI measure similar constructs. These two constructs may help us to understand differences in symptom profile and response to therapy in depressed patients., (Copright 2002 Elsevier Science BV.)

Objective: To compare the current sexual functioning of women in an intimate relationship with anorexia nervosa, with major depression, and in the postpartum period. Method: Complete data were available for 76 women who reported being in an intimate relationship (anorexia = 10; depression = 24; postpartum = 42). Sexual functioning was assessed using the Social Adjustment Scale (Weissman and Bothwell, Arch Gen Psychiatry, 33, 1111–1115, 1976). Results: Significant differences were found among groups for the frequency of sex (p =.03) and problems with sex (p < .001), but not for enjoyment of sex (p = .55). In the previous 2 weeks, women with anorexia nervosa or major depression were more likely to have had sex than postpartum women, but were also more likely to have had sexual problems than postpartum women. Most women with anorexia nervosa, women with major depression, and postpartum women reported enjoying sex. Conclusion: Women with anorexia nervosa and women with major depression who are in an intimate relationship report a similar profile of current sexual functioning that is different from postpartum women both in the frequency of sexual encounters and in reported problems with sex. © 2007 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2007. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine whether the T allele of G protein β3 ( GNβ3) is associated with self-mutilation in depressed patients. Method: A history of self-mutilation was systematically inquired about when recruiting depressed patients for a long-term treatment trial. Risk factors such as borderline personality disorder and childhood abuse experiences were systematically assessed, and patients were genotyped for polymorphisms of GNβ3. Results: The T allele of GNβ3, borderline personality disorder and childhood sexual abuse were all significantly associated with self-mutilation in depressed patients. These associations were significant in both univariate and multivariate analyses, and as predicted were stronger in young depressed patients than in depressed patients of all ages. Conclusions: If the association between the T allele of GNβ3 and self-mutilation can be replicated, this may provide clues to understanding the neurobiology of self-mutilation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This study considered whether the prevalence and type of anxiety and psychoactive substance use disorder (PSUD) diagnoses differ between women with spectrum anorexia nervosa (AN) (N=40) and women with major depressive disorder (N = 58) participating in outpatient clinical trials. Method Anxiety and PSUD diagnoses (according to criteria in the 3rd Rev. ed. of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) were assessed using structured clinical interviews. Comparisons were made between AN subtypes (restricting or binge eating/purging) and by history of depression within the AN sample. Results A high prevalence of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) was found in women with AN. However, social phobia, simple phobia, and PSUD were significantly elevated in both women with depression and women with AN. Prevalences were similar for anxiety and PSUD diagnoses between AN subtypes. Discussion Women with anorexia or depression were comparable in all respects, except for the elevated OCD prevalence in AN, emphasizing the need to use clinical comparison groups to avoid inadvertently attributing elevated prevalences of comorbid conditions to specific disorders. © 2003 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 34: 211–219, 2003. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the relationships between dimensions of personality assessed by using the Temperament and Character Inventory and presenting problem areas in Interpersonal Psychotherapy. Method: One hundred two depressed patients completed the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), and Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) problem areas were assessed using a clinician-rated questionnaire. Results: Following multiple regression analysis, patients rated as having problems with grief scored low on self transcendence, those with disputes had low cooperativeness, those with role transitions had low novelty seeking, and those with deficits had low reward dependence. Conclusions: Both temperament and character may be relevant to the nature of presenting problems related to Interpersonal Psychotherapy. An understanding of how personality is relevant to presenting interpersonal problems may provide both a framework and a focus with which to work in this form of psychotherapy. Depression and Anxiety 8:154–159, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objectives: This study examined patient predictors of response to interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) and cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT). Method: Participants were 177 adults with a primary diagnosis of major depressive disorder randomised to 16 weekly sessions of either IPT or CBT. Pre and post treatment depressive symptomatology was assessed by an independent clinician with the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale. Results: General predictors of response were perceived logicalness of therapy, recurrent depression and childhood reasons for depression (r2 =.21). Only one differential predictor of treatment response was identified. Increasing comorbid personality disorder symptoms was associated with decreases in response to IPT but not CBT. Conclusion: The results indicate that attention to specific pretreatment patient factors may enhance response to psychotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Impaired social adjustment in depression has been associated with clinical variables, although results have been inconsistent. Previous research has not examined how social adjustment in depression varies by source of sample (clinical vs. community) or the associations with personality. Methods: A total of 260 depressed outpatients from two samples completed the Social Adjustment Scale and were assessed on a number of clinical variables including depression severity, age, duration of depression, and personality symptoms. Results: Overall social adjustment scores in our clinical samples were similar to those of an overseas clinical sample although there were some differences by subscales. In addition, the social adjustment scores of our clinical sample were significantly more impaired than those of individuals identified as depressed from a local epidemiological sample. Finally, in multiple regression equations, social adjustment scores were predicted by the clinical variables, severity of depression, younger age and personality symptoms. However, these only explained a small amount of variance in scores. Conclusion: Social adjustment in depression does not vary across different countries but varies according to the sample source (clinic vs. community). Some clinical variables are emerging as consistently associated with impaired social adjustment in depression. The associations with personality suggest this must be considered when assessing social adjustment in depressed patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]