Early deficient parenting in depressed outpatients is associated with personality dysfunction and not with depression subtypes

Background: We investigated the associations between recollected levels of parental care and current symptomatology, axis I and axis II comorbidity and family psychiatric history in 248 depressed outpatients. Methods: The sample was divided into three approximately equal groups according to PBI scores. Current symptomatology was assessed with the SCL-90, SAS and HAM-17. Axis I and axis II comorbidity were assessed with the SCID-P and SCID-II respectively. Results: Deficient parenting was not associated with melancholia, age of onset or severity of depression. Significant linear associations were found for recurrent depression, comorbid substance disorder, current symptomatology and, of most significance, personality disorders. Conclusion: Personality dysfunction may mediate the relation between early parental deprivation and adult psychopathology. Limitations: Possible limitations include retrospective recall of parental care and the state effects of depression on assessment. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.