ABSTRACT
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV) (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 1994) describes depressive personality disorder (DPD) as
a pervasive pattern of depressive cognitions and behaviors beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five or more of the following: (1) usual mood is dominated by dejection, gloominess, cheerlessness, joylessness, unhappiness; (2) self-concept centers around beliefs of inadequacy, worthlessness, and low self-esteem; (3) is critical, blaming, and derogatory toward self; (4) is brooding and given to worry; (5) is negativistic, critical, and judgmental toward others; (6) is pessimistic; (7) is prone to feeling guilty or remorseful. (p. 733)
Although DPD recently has been proposed for inclusion in the DSM, it also has been a construct of interest for some time (reviewed in Huprich, 1998). Schneider (1958) described the individual with depressive personality as quiet, serious, constantly pessimistic, and lacking the capacity to have fun. Laughlin (1956) characterized depressive personalities as (a) being overserious, overconscientious, and dependable; (b) having an increased vulnerability to letdown and disappointment, which arises from early disappointments in child-parent relationships; (c) denying overt levels of hostility; (d) being rigid, meticulous, and perfectionistic; and (e) having a masochistic orientation, involving excessively high standards for self and others, angry attitudes toward self and others, including a
need for punishment of those who fail to meet the excessively high standards (including oneself).
