Citation

Boeker H, Himmighoffen H, Straub M, Schopper C, Endrass J, Kuechenhoff B, Weber S, Hell D. J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. 2008; 196(10): 743-751.

Affiliation

Hospital for Affective Disorders and General Psychiatry Zurich East, Center for Affective and Anxiety Disorders, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland. boeker@bli.unizh.ch

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/NMD.0b013e3181879daf

PMID

18852618

Abstract

This study investigated psychodynamically relevant dimensions in female depressive patients with and without deliberate self-harm (DSH). DSH is often observed in depressive patients and frequently shows a correlation with personality disorders. Forty female depressive patients with and without DSH were investigated after recovery from acute depressive pathology by means of"operationalized psychodynamic diagnostics"(OPD). Patients with DSH had a significantly lower level of integration in the OPD dimension"structure,"and their"interpersonal relationships"showed dysfunctional interaction patterns. They also had a significantly higher rate of personality disorders. These results underline the significance of aspects of personality structure in female depressive patients with DSH, and enable a deeper understanding of their dysfunctional defense strategies, the connections with underlying disturbed affect regulation, and vicious circles in the therapeutic transference-countertransference relationship. OPD has been shown to be a useful tool for empirical research into therapeutically relevant dimensions of personality.

Language: en