Personality and response to tricyclic antidepressants in depressed patients.

Several studies have shown that disturbances of personality are poor predictors of response to antidepressants. None of these studies, however, has used personality measures similar to the DSM-III. We evaluated the relationship between antidepressant response and personality scores obtained on the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory, which provides personality measures congruent with DSM-III. Personality features such as assertiveness, independence, and competitiveness distinguished responders from nonresponders. However, the frequency of personality disorder diagnoses did not differ between responders and nonresponders.