Paul R Duberstein1, Marnin J Heisel. 1. Laboratory of Personality and Development, Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, 300 Crittenden Boulevard, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. Paul_Duberstein@urmc.rochester.edu
Abstract
BACKGROUND: A deeper understanding of the influences on self-reported mood symptoms could inform the debate about the utility of self-report instruments and enhance the assessment and treatment of affective disorders. We tested the hypotheses that higher Neuroticism is associated with the over-reporting of affective symptoms and lower Openness to Experience is associated with the under-reporting of affective symptoms. METHODS: Subjects were 134 inpatients of ages 50 and over diagnosed with a mood disorder. Personality was assessed with the Revised NEO Personality Inventory. Self-reported depression was assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory-II; observer-rated depression was assessed via the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Symptom-reporting was defined as the ratio of self-reported to observer-rated symptoms. RESULTS: As hypothesized, multivariate linear regression analyses revealed that high Neuroticism contributed to patients' over-reporting of mood symptoms. Contrary to the hypothesis, low Openness was associated with high ratios of self-reported to observer-rated mood symptoms. LIMITATIONS: Cross-sectional design and unclear generalizability to racial/ethnic minorities. CONCLUSIONS: Traits are important correlaters of self-reported vs. observer-rated symptoms in patients with affective disorders. To the extent that economic imperatives and other pressures impel greater reliance on self-report data in mental health research and services, there will be a corresponding need for prospective research on the determinants and clinical implications of discrepancies between self-reports and observer ratings.
BACKGROUND: A deeper understanding of the influences on self-reported mood symptoms could inform the debate about the utility of self-report instruments and enhance the assessment and treatment of affective disorders. We tested the hypotheses that higher Neuroticism is associated with the over-reporting of affective symptoms and lower Openness to Experience is associated with the under-reporting of affective symptoms. METHODS: Subjects were 134 inpatients of ages 50 and over diagnosed with a mood disorder. Personality was assessed with the Revised NEO Personality Inventory. Self-reported depression was assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory-II; observer-rated depression was assessed via the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Symptom-reporting was defined as the ratio of self-reported to observer-rated symptoms. RESULTS: As hypothesized, multivariate linear regression analyses revealed that high Neuroticism contributed to patients' over-reporting of mood symptoms. Contrary to the hypothesis, low Openness was associated with high ratios of self-reported to observer-rated mood symptoms. LIMITATIONS: Cross-sectional design and unclear generalizability to racial/ethnic minorities. CONCLUSIONS: Traits are important correlaters of self-reported vs. observer-rated symptoms in patients with affective disorders. To the extent that economic imperatives and other pressures impel greater reliance on self-report data in mental health research and services, there will be a corresponding need for prospective research on the determinants and clinical implications of discrepancies between self-reports and observer ratings.
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Authors: Marnin J Heisel; Nancy L Talbot; Deborah A King; Xin M Tu; Paul R Duberstein Journal: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2014-03-29 Impact factor: 4.105
Authors: Jennifer Margrett; Peter Martin; John L Woodard; L Stephen Miller; Maurice MacDonald; Joan Baenziger; Ilene C Siegler; Adam Davey; Leonard Poon; S M Jazwinski; R C Green; M Gearing; W R Markesbery; M A Johnson; J S Tenover; W L Rodgers; D B Hausman; C Rott; J Arnold Journal: Gerontology Date: 2010-01-26 Impact factor: 5.140
Authors: Paul R Duberstein; Yan Ma; Benjamin P Chapman; Yeates Conwell; Joanne McGriff; James C Coyne; Nathan Franus; Marnin J Heisel; Kimberly A Kaukeinen; Silvia Sörensen; Xin M Tu; Jeffrey M Lyness Journal: Int Psychogeriatr Date: 2010-09-30 Impact factor: 3.878