Personality attributes of depressive patients.

Three groups of depressive patients (endogenous bipolar, endogenous unipolar, and nonendogenous) and one nondepressive control group displayed statistically significant differences on several personality variables when the patients were in a depression-free interval. Each of the depressive groups had stronger autodestructive-neurotic tendencies than the control group. The nonendogenous patients were overautonomous and aggressive, the endogenous unipolar patients lacked autonomy, and the endogenous bipolar patients had a hypomanic drive toward success and achievement and were anancastic and aggressive. These results were controlled for the influence of persisting symptoms of depression. They rectify generally accepted views and represent a basis for further clinical research.