The Five Factor Model of Personality and Psychotic Symptoms in Depression

Abstract

Objective:

Five factor model of personality tends to measure basic personality structure. Some authors clam that this model is not enough to explain every psychological phenomenon and that sixth factor model is a better solution especially in prediction of psychopathology. The objective of this research is to investigate this hypothesis, whether is possible to explain psychotic symptoms in depression using the five factor model and which is a better option five or sixth model of personality in prediction depression with psychotic symptoms.

Method:

Sample consisted of 30 inpatients diagnosed depression with psychotic symptoms and 30 inpatients diagnosed depression without psychotic symptoms. Depression was assessed by ICD-X criteria and confirmed by Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (21-item form) and by clinical scales from Milons Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI III). All the participants were administered Neo Pir (five factor model of personality-measures basic personality structure) and DELTA-9 (measures psychoticism proneness).

Results:

We found one statistically significant canonical function that discriminate two groups of depressed patients. This function shows that domains of sixth factor-psychoticisam better discriminate psychotic symptoms then dimensions from Neo Pir.

Conclusion:

Our findings suggested that the five factor model is not enough to explain and predict psychotic features in depression and that using a new concept of psychoticisam or six factor model of personality could be a better solution in clinical setting.