Family history, life events and the factorial structure of depression in a Nigerian sample of inpatients.

The aims of the study were to examine the frequency of a family history of depression among 96 patients with subtypes of ICD-10 depression, their life event scores, and compare the factors of depression with other studies. Subjects were assessed using the PSE-9, 23-item HDRS, BPRS and life event schedule. Family history was significantly commoner for psychotic depression. There were no significant differences in life event scores. The HDRS factors -- core depression, endogenous, insomnia and psychic anxiety -- were similar to those of previous studies. Combining the HDRS and BPRS yielded factors that were more representative of the dimensions of depression. While family history distinguishes psychotic depression, life events are important with increasing age, but require interaction with predisposing factors. Although depression is heterogeneous, there are core clinical features which are stable across cultures and time. Family history is more associated with the severer forms of the disorder, and combining relevant questionnaires maybe more useful in research on symptom profiles. Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel