[Depression and response: impact of personality and cognition]. / Depression und Response: Der Einfluss von Persönlichkeit und Kognition.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Despite effective pharmacologic and therapeutic strategies some patients do not sufficiently benefit from antidepressive treatment. The influence of personality and cognition onto response in depressive inpatients shall be explored. METHODS: Depressive inpatients were rated concerning depressive pathology immediately after admission as well as at discharge. In addition, prior to discharge, cognitive performance and personality traits were measured. The sample was divided into responders and nonresponders by the reduction of depressive symptoms from admission to discharge. For the assumption of response, a reduction of minimum 50 % was defined. RESULTS: Preliminary results suggest an impact of personality traits onto response in depressive patients, particularly extraversion seems to have a salutary effect. Furthermore, significant differences between responders and nonresponders were shown concerning alertness. CONCLUSIONS: In the treatment of non-response depression, cognitive and personality traits should be taken in account by using multimodal strategies.