Depressive Personality Disorder
Causes, Controversy and Treatment of Chronically Morose Personality
An overview of depressive personality disorder (DPD), pervasive patterns of depressive behavior subject to much controversy.
People with depressive personality disorder (DPD) will experience chronic sullenness, disrupting their day-to-day functioning and disheartening those around them. Their pattern of thoughts, feelings and behaviors may be rigid and limiting, as is the case with other personality disorders.
Depressive Personality Disorder
Personalities are made up of consistent patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviors. As people mature, their personalities develop, helping them to cope with new circumstances as they arise. Someone with a personality disorder is likely to struggle in this respect.
The following patterns of depressive cognition and behaviors may be present in someone with DPD:
- Mood generally characterized by unhappiness, despondency
- Poor self-concept, including low self-esteem and beliefs of inadequacy
- Being critical and disparaging of oneself
- Being critical and judgmental of others
- Brooding, worrying
- An outlook of pessimism
- Predisposition to feelings of guilt
DPD is noted in an appendix of the DSM-IV, recognized as a disorder requiring more research. There is contention surrounding its validity as a personality disorder.
Causes of Depressive Personality Disorder
There has been much research into the causes of personality disorders, however, the individual personality is unique and complex. It is likely that a number of factors are relevant, such as inherited personality traits, family circumstances and childhood experiences.
Depressive Personality Disorder and Controversy
The diagnosis of personality disorders has long been considered controversial. Personalities are by their very nature multifaceted and therefore difficult to categorize. For some people, a diagnostic label may be inappropriate, unhelpful and stigmatizing.
DPD in particular is a topic of much contention amongst researchers. Someone diagnosed with the disorder will not necessarily suffer with major depressive episodes, though some studies do highlight similarities. Dysthymia, a long-term depressive disorder, is often linked to DPD. Some researchers propose that DPD be reclassified as a subtype of dysthymia, while others argue that, despite an overlap, DPD is a disorder in its own right. A further argument is that the diagnostic criteria currently referred to as DPD should stand alone as neither a personality disorder nor a mood disorder.
Treatment for Depressive Personality Disorder
Patterns of thoughts and behavior can be deep-seated and therefore difficult to tackle. Given researchers’ concerns about the validity of the disorder and its criteria, it makes sense to question how best to treat it. More research is needed to adequately determine how this disorder be classed and managed.
In general, some medications may be helpful but there is no drug that will actually cure a personality disorder. If there is depression and/or anxiety present, antidepressants and/or other medications may be prescribed to help alleviate these symptoms.
There are a number of talking treatments available that may help to make behavioral and interpersonal changes. Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), personality psychotherapy and group therapy are among some of the treatments used to treat personality disorders. These therapies have been shown to be effective with some disorders but may take several months, even years, to get results.
Read What is a Personality Disorder? for more information about causes, classification and diagnosis of personality disorders. Anyone who thinks they fit the criteria for the disorder should seek medical advice to ensure a proper diagnosis is made and that other conditions are ruled out.
Sources
Reliability and Validity of Depressive Personality Disorder: American Journal of Psychiatry, accessed 10th March 2008, authors - Phillips, K.A; Gunderson, J.G; Triebwasser, J; Kimble, C.R; Faedda, G; Lyoo, K; Renn, J
Depressive personality disorder: A critical overview: Current Psychiatry Reports, accessed 10th March 2008, authors - Bagby, R.M; Ryder, A.G; Schuller, D.R
