FACTOR PATTERNS IN DEPRESSION - REPLICATION STUDY

A principal component analysis was carried out on symptom ratings and selected history items from 79 depressed patients. Three interpretable factors were obtained. The first was a general factor reflecting severity. The second a bipolar factor contrasting endogenous and neurotic depression, the third a bipolar factor contrasting anxiety and depressive symptoms. These replicate similar factors found previously in a different sample. The stability and predictive value are emphasised of other factors as well as the endogenous-neurotic dimension. © 1979.