Neurotic symptoms and major depressive illness.

Neurotic symptoms as measured by self-rating scales were studied in 40 patients suffering from a major depressive disorder and 40 control subjects matched for sociodemographic variables. The depressive patients reported significantly more symptoms (global neuroticism, anxiety, somatization, and hostility) than controls. The more severe were the depressive self-rated symptoms, the more intense was the neurotic symptomatology. A principal component analysis was carried out in depressives and controls. In both groups a first general factor reflecting severity was obtained.