Major Depressive Disorder: Part-I: Personality and Phenomenology.

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To study the phenomenological variations in context of personality psychopathology in Major Depressive Disorder patients. Methods:36 indoor patients of psychiatry ward of tertiary level service out of total 168 admitted patients from Ist January 2008 to 31st Dec. 2008 diagnosed as Major Depressive Disorder (as per DSMIV TR) . Socio-demographic data on a self-designed Performa, Montgomery Asberg’s Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Hamilton Anxiety rating scale (HARS)and Presumptive Stressful Life Event Scale(PSLE) were applied to these patients and they were observed every alternate day till discharge. International Personality Disorder Examination (IPDE) was applied on their third follow-up visit, which ranged from 6 to8 weeks. Results: Sociodemographic variables by enlarge didn’t make a difference in MADRS score. MADRS score was significantly higher with increasing episodes of illness. Personality disorder patients had significantly higher MADRS score than Double traits (t=3.47, df=27, p<0.01) and Single trait (t=4.056, df=23, p<0.001) personality psychopathology. Higher level of depression in Personality disorder patients in all components of depression like sadness, reduced sleep pessimistic and suicidal thought etc were reported. Presence of stress with personality psychopathology added greater severity to depression. Conclusion: Our study brings out constitutional vulnerability with adverse environmental conditions were associated with higher level of psychopathology.