Personality as a predictor of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy outcome for depressed outpatients

In a double-blind, randomized clinical trial, 96 depressed outpatients (ages 18-65 yrs) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups: psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, combined psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy, and nonscheduled treatment (control). Before treatment began, Ss were assessed on 3 personality inventories (Maudsley Personality Inventory, J. Frank's [1976] Mastery Scale, and Buss-Durkee Guilt Scale) and 4 outcome scales (Hamilton Depression Scale, Raskin Depression Scale, Global Illness Scale, and Social Adjustment Self-Report). Ss were reassessed on the outcome measures at termination (after 2-26 wks of treatment) and 1 yr later. The pretreatment personality scores were not significantly related to improved outcome scores at termination either as a main effect or for the interaction with treatment group. However, low neuroticism and high extraversion on the Maudsley inventory were associated with improved social adjustment 1 yr later. (23 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).