Social adjustment, coping style, and clinical course among DSM‐III‐R community unipolar depressives

Abstract

AbstractThe study describes social adjustment and coping style among three DSM‐III‐R unipolar depression diagnostic groups (pure dystbymia, double depression, and pure major depression). The primary goal was to determine if these variables would discriminate between the groups. Also studied were the clinical course features of the unipolar groups. Data from 106 nontreatntent, community‐recruited subjects participating in a DSM‐IV mood disorders field trial at Virginia Commonwealth University were used for this study. Results indicated no differences in social adjustment and coping style among the pure dysthymia, double depression, and major depression groups. One exception was the significantly higher GAF scores among the pure dysthymia group. Clinical course differences were found between the two combined dysthymia groups (pure dysthymics and double depressives) when compared to the major depressive group. Dysthymics reported an earlier age of onset and a higher prevalence of insidious onset. Major depressives were able to pinpoint exacerbating stressors precipitating syndromal episodes. Depression 2:36–42 (1994). © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.