The Impact of Personality and Depressive Style on the Psychotherapeutic Outcomes of Depressed Patients

Abstract

Depression is a heterogeneous disorder that can manifest itself in multiple ways (self-critical or dependent style) and whose structural functioning differs among patients. This study aimed to assess the relationship between structural functioning and depressive styles, along with the effect of the latter on changes in outcomes during therapy. Based on a purposive sample, 145 patients were evaluated at 2 outpatient psychotherapeutic care centers in Santiago, Chile. Several elements were measured: self-critical and dependent aspects (DEQ), structural functioning (OPD-SQ) at the start of the therapy, and outcomes (OQ-45.2) at the beginning of the process and during the 3rd and 6th sessions. Correlational, path, and latent growth analyses revealed that higher dependency and self-criticism levels are related to less integration of overall structural functioning. Higher dependency levels correlate with lower integration in the perception of self and in the management of object relations. Also, analyses showed that more self-criticism is linked to less integration of internal bonds. High dependency or self-criticism levels are associated with lower initial overall well-being; however, only high dependency correlates with a positive change in outcomes.