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Personality traits are associated with acute major depression across the age spectrum
- Authors:
- WEBER Kerstin, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 16(4), May 2012, pp.472-480.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Personality traits have been shown to be related both to increased risk of depression and also to depression recovery. The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between personality traits and major depression in 2 samples of young and old depressed outpatients in 2 age-matched groups. The study involved comparisons amongst 79 outpatients with major depression and 102 healthy controls. Two sub-groups of patients were determined: young (25–50 years) and old (60–85 years). The participants were assessed utilising the five-factor model of personality (neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness), socio-demographic variables, physical health status, and depression features. The findings indicate that depressed patients show significantly higher levels of neuroticism and lower levels of extraversion, openness to experience and conscientiousness compared to controls. The levels of neuroticism did not allow for differentiating late-life from young age depression. Increased physical burden and decreased depression severity were the main predictors for this distinction. The data indicate that personality factors and depression are related, independently of patients’ age. They also stress the need to consider physical health, level of dependency and severity of symptoms when studying the relationship between personality traits and mood disorders.