Dysthymia and personality

Data on dysthymia and personality presented here are derived from the Zurich cohort study, which followed 591 subjects from the ages of 20 to 35. From childhood on, dysthymics experienced themselves as far more anxious and less self-confident than did major depressives or controls. They manifested more behavioural problems and high neuroticism and introversion scores. Dysthymics scored low in terms of quality of life, self-esteem and mastery, whereas they scored high in avoiding/denying behaviours. The hypothesis is advanced that behavioural problems, anxiety, high levels of neuroticism and personality disorders constitute risk factors for chronic depression. Evidence is presented of the existence of bipolar dysthymia. (C) 1998 Elsevier, Paris.