Abstract:

Objective To analyse and compare the clinical symptoms, life events, social support, coping style and personality characteristics of minor depressive disorder (MinD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods Two hundred and eighty-eight patients with MDD (MDD group) and 222 patients with MinD (MinD group) were enrolled. Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression-17 (HAMD-17), Life Event Scale (LES), Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS), Trait Coping Style Questionnaire (TCSQ) and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) were employed to analyse and compare the clinical symptoms, psychological stress, social support, coping style and personality characteristics between these two groups. Results The prevalence of depressive symptoms and HAMD-17 score in MinD group were significantly lower than those in MDD group (P<0.01, P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the prevalences of life events between these two groups, while patients in MinD group had less negative life events stress than those in MDD group (P<0.01). Compared with patients in MDD group, those in MinD group had lower scores on friend support factor of PSSS, higher scores on positive coping factor of TCSQ, and higher scores on extraversion/introversion factor and lower scores on neuroticism/stability factor of EPQ (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Conclusion Compared with MDD, there are lower prevalence of depression, less psychological stress, better coping strategy and personality characteristics for MinD.

Key words: minor depressive disorder, major depressive disorder, Life Event Scale, Perceived Social Support Scale, Trait Coping Style Questionnaire, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire