Abstract
M.A. (Counselling Psychology)
According to the psychiatric and psychological literature,
researchers adopt controversial standpoints regarding the
classification of Dysthymia Disorder. Some researchers regard
Dysthymia Disorder as an independent diagnostic entity, while
others consider it a variant of Unipolar Major Depression.
The aim of this research is to determine, by means of a
comparative investigation, the clinical personality disorder
differences or similarities which occur in patients with the
two disorders.
As a point of departure, this study examines those aspects of
the DSM-III-R and the views of the future DSM-IV concerning
Dysthymia Disorder and Unipolar Major Depression, as well as
recent theoretical approaches to these disorders.
Divergent findings in respect of different factors for the two
syndrome disorders are described. The different sub-uypea of
Dysthymia and the overlap among these sub-types as well as the
overlap between the two disorder-groups are focused on.
Attention is given to the relationship between depression and
personality disorders.
For the experimental investigation, 100 patients from TARA the
H. Moross-centre, Weskoppies Hospital and Vista Private
Clinic, and 20 patients from three private practices, are
consulted and tested.
Because of the difference in application of
criteria by different researchers, only patients
the criteria of the DSM-III-R for Unipolar Major
and Dysthymia Disorder are used as test subjects.