Personality and self-reported treatment effectiveness in depression

Objective: The aim of the present study was to examine the associations between eight personality styles and retrospective self-reported response to a wide range of treatments for depression, including pharmacological, psychological and alternative strategies. Method: An online survey posted on the Black Dog Institute website was completed by 3486 respondents reporting a history of treatment for depression. Inclusion criteria resulted in a sample of 2692 respondents. Participants completed the Temperament and Personality Questionnaire, which assesses eight personality dimensions: anxious worrying, perfectionism, personal reserve, irritability, social avoidance, rejection sensitivity, self-criticism and self-focus. Results: A series of linear regressions quantified that the personality dimensions - as well as age and gender - accounted for very little of the variance in self-reported treatment effectiveness (1-7%). Self-criticism was associated with a poorer response to most treatments, and social avoidance was associated with a poorer response to psychological treatments (e.g. cognitive behaviour therapy) and behavioural strategies (e.g. exercise). Several other weak associations are reported. Conclusion: The association between personality style and retrospective self-reported treatment response was overall weak at most. The association between a personality style of self-criticism and poor treatment response warrants clarification.