Personality Factors and Depressive Configurations. An Exploratory Study in an Italian Clinical Sample

Abstract

Introduction: This study focuses on the relationship between personality configurations and depressive experiences. More specifically, the aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between self-criticism and dependency and personality styles or disorders, exploring the association between personality features and depressive symptoms. The two-configurations model of personality developed by Blatt (2004, 2008) is adopted as a reference point in sharing a valid framework and in understanding the results.Methods: Five instruments are administered to 51 participants with a diagnosis of depressive disorder, in accordance with DSM-IV-TR (American Psychiatric Association, 2000): Self-criticism and dependency dimensions of depression are measured with the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire (DEQ); self-reported depression is assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II); observer-rated depression is assessed with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS); personality is assessed with the Clinical Diagnostic Interview (CDI) and the Shedler Westen Assessment Procedure-200 (SWAP-200).Results: Only self-criticism, and not dependency, is associated with depressive symptoms. In addition, the SWAP Borderline PD Scale and the Dysphoric: Emotionally dysregulated Q-factor emerge as significant in predicting depression.Conclusions: Findings support the assumption that depressive personality configurations can enhance the vulnerability to developing depression. Theoretical and clinical implications of these results are discussed.

Anaclitic-sociotropic and introjective-autonomic personality dimensions and depressive symptoms: a systematic review

“…In fact, most of the studies found weaker associations between somatic symptoms and dependent personalities. By contrast, as we had assumed, the relationship between self-criticism and cognitive symptomatology was significantly higher, with self-criticism being significantly associated with worthlessness, self-dislike, self-criticalness, defeat and failure, irritability, guilty feelings, self-hate, loss of interest, concentration difficulty, tiredness, changes in appetite and concerns about the ability to function [ 30 , 47 , 51 , 69 , 79 ]. Furthermore, self-criticism—in contrast to Blatt’s [ 12 ] view of the introjective configurations—seems to be able to predict poorer social functioning at follow-up [ 47 ], as well as both cognitive and somatic symptoms of depression [ 79 ].…”

“…Seven studies [ 30 , 47 , 51 , 59 , 69 , 71 , 79 ] were identified examining the relationship between personality and somatic symptoms in adults (age range 18–70 years).…”

“…The main result is a significant positive association between dependent personality and indecisiveness [ ß = 0.229; F(1,25) = 8.811; p = 0.003], worthlessness [ ß = 0.251; F(1,25) = 12.280; p = 0.001] [ 30 ], and guilty feelings ( β = 0.383, t = 2.898, p = 0.006) [ 79 ]. The self-critical personality also showed significant positive associations with Beck Depression Inventory-II [ 9 ] symptoms: pessimism [ ß = 0.215; F(1,25) = 7.551; p = 0.007] [ 30 ], (β = 0.379, t = 2.869, p = 0.006) [ 79 ], past failure [β = 0.324; F(1,25) = 19.123; p = 0.000] [ 30 ], ( β = 0.436, t = 3.391, p = 0.001) [ 79 ], guilty feelings [ ß = 0.356; F(1,25) = 23.325; p = 0.000] [ 30 ], ( β = 0.406, t = 3.112, p = 0.003) [ 79 ], self-dislike [ ß = 0.390; F(1,25) = 29.484; p = 0.000][ 30 ], ( β = 0.392, t = 2.987, p = 0.004) [ 79 ], self-criticalness [ ß = 0.391; F(1,25) = 28.675; p = 0.000] [ 30 ], ( β = 0.437, t = 3.400, p = 0.001) [ 79 ], crying [ ß = 0.240; F(1,25) = 9.772; p = 0.002] [ 30 ], indecisiveness [ ß = 0.234; F(1,25) = 9.561; p = 0.002] [ 30 ], ( β = 0.306, t = 2.248, p = 0.029) [ 79 ], worthlessness [ ß = 0.396; F(1,25) = 31.599; p = 0.000] [ 30 ], punishment feelings (β = 0.341, t = 2.540, p = 0.014) [ 79 ], loss of interest ( β = 0.328, t = 2.430, p = 0.019) [ 79 ], change in appetite ( β = 0.363, t = 2.723, p = 0.009) [ 79 ], difficulty concentrating ( β = 0.299, t = 2.194, p = 0.033) [ 79 ], and tiredness or fatigue ( β = 0,321, t = 2.375, p = 0.021) [ 79 ].…”

Anxiety and Emotional-Behavioral Problems of Adolescents in China: Evidence for A Serial Mediation Model of Alexithymia and Dependency

“…The Depressive Experiences Questionnaire (DEQ) has not only good reliability and validity for the study of depression but also personality and general psychopathology. Self-criticism is signi cantly associated with depressive symptoms in patients with clinical depression while anxiety level is associated with dependency [21][22].…”

Assessing personality change with Blatt's anaclitic and introjective configurations and Shedler-Westen Assessment Procedure profiles: two case studies in psychodynamic treatment

“…An additional aim is to bridge the gap between clinicians and researchers, and to show a clinically sophisticated and empirically grounded practice in psychodynamic framework (Kazdin, 1982 ; Moran & Fonagy, 1987 ; Fonagy, 1993 ; Wallerstein, 1995 ; Roth & Fonagy, 1996 ; Shedler, 2002 ; Porcerelli et al, 2007 ; Kächele, Schacther, & Thomä, 2009 ; Levy, Ablon, & Kächele, 2012 ). The main hypothesis is that changes in Mr. F’s and Ms. G’s depressive symptomatology and mental functioning will be observed, through a different configuration of personality features and an evolution from primitive to mature defence mechanisms (Straccamore et al, 2017 ; Akkerman, Lewin, & Carr, 1999 ; Bond & Perry, 2004 ).…”