Are there different types of neurotic depression?

The classification of depression remains controversial (Kendell, 1976). Overall et al. (1966) used the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (PBRS), a computer classification procedure and derived three depressed groups: anxious, hostile and retarded depressives. Paykel (1971, 1972) reported four groups derived from a multivariate cluster analysis: psychotic depressives and '...three groups, anxious, hostile and young depressives with personality disorder, from the diversity of patients subsumed under neurotic depression'. Amongst 85 women treated with amitriptyline 'this typology predicted outcome significantly'. This paper presents the results of a cluster analysis of a group of 60 female out-patient neurotic depressives.