Self-Reported Depressive Symptoms That Differentiate Recurrent-Episode Major Depression From Dysthymic Disorders

The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was administered to 168 outpatients diagnosed with recurrent-episode, major-depression disorders & 99 out-patients diagnosed with dysthymic disorders. The mean ratings of 18 BDI items were comparable in both groups; the mean total-BDI score & mean number of BDI items rated were higher for the major depressive disorders than for the dysthymic disorders. A backward stepwise-discriminant analysis revealed that Suicidal Ideas & Loss of Appetite were the two symptoms that most meaningfully distinguished between the two groups. The major depressive patients described more suicidal ideation & loss of appetite than did the dysthymic patints. (18 refs)