TY - JOUR PY - 1996// TI - Symptom profile, Axis II comorbidity and suicidal behaviour in young males with DSM-III-R depressive illnesses JO - Journal of affective disorders A1 - Spalletta, Gianfranco A1 - Troisi, A. A1 - Saracco, M. A1 - Ciani, N. A1 - Pasini, A. SP - 141 EP - 148 VL - 39 IS - 2 N2 - We assessed the descriptive validity of DSM-III-R major depression (MDD), dysthymia (DD) and adjustment disorder with depressed mood (ADDM) by comparing the clinical profiles of 176 young male patients. The severity of depression increased progressively across the three diagnostic groups (ADDM < DD < MDD). Symptom presentation did not distinguish clearly between the diagnostic groups, even though somatic symptoms were more frequent among MDD patients. The prevalence of personality disorders was much higher (43%) among DD patients than among MDD (22%) and ADDM (15%) patients. The lifetime prevalence of suicide attempts differed in the three diagnostic groups (MDD 27%, DD 17%, ADDM 4%). Assessment of Axis II comorbidity and suicidal behavior can improve the diagnostic distinction between these DSM-III-R depressive illnesses.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0165-0327 UR - http://dx.doi.org/ ID - ref1 ER -