Personality disorders and social functioning in depressed patients

In this article we present the results of a study of 244 outpatients suffering from major depression. The issues addressed were: 1) which axis II disorders are found in this group and are there correlations with the demographic characteristics?; and 2) is there a relationship between individual axis II disorders and the severity of the depression and social functioning? Using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, a slightly significant correlation was found between the presence of an axis II disorder and the severity of the depression. A significant difference was found using the Symptom Check List -90. The influence of the measuring instruments used and to the composition of the population are discussed, as well as the clinical relevance of the diagnosis of axis II disorders and social functioning in patients with a major depression.