Evaluating the Dimensional Personality Model Characteristics of Female Adolescents with Depression

Abstract

Given the lack of studies focusing on this topic, we aimed to evaluate the dimensional personality characteristics of adolescents with Major Depressive Disorder based on the DSM-5 and to determine the relationship between pathological personality traits and psychopathology. This study was done in Turkish population and data of 70 female patients ranging in age between 11 and 18, who were admitted to the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry outpatient clinic with depressive symptoms, was analyzed. We cross-sectionally analyzed DSM-5 Personality Inventory Child Form-Short Version (PID-5-CSV) dimensional scores and the correlation between PID-5-CSV and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores, and compared the PID-5-CSV features between depression severity groups that were formed based on the BDI cutoff ranks. A positive correlation was found between depression severity and total scores of the PID-5-CSV, indicating an increased risk of personality psychopathology. Some of the dimension scores were also positively correlated with BDI scores, putting these patients at risk for specific personality disorders (PD), especially Borderline PD. Significantly lower Antagonism dimension scores were found, which has not been reported in the literature before; this may indicate a possible risk factor for Avoidant PD. Results from this study may suggest that the PID-5-CSV is an effective way to assess personality traits and implement dimensional personality characteristics into the psychiatric diagnosis and treatment process. Studies with control groups and mixed gender samples are needed for further clarification in this field.