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The general neurotic syndrome: a coaxial diagnosis of anxiety, depression and personality disorder
Author(s) -
Tyrer P.,
Seivewright N.,
Ferguson B.,
Tyrer J.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1992.tb08595.x
Subject(s) - neuroticism , panic disorder , anxiety , psychopathology , psychology , clinical psychology , psychiatry , depression (economics) , anxiety disorder , dysthymic disorder , agoraphobia , personality , generalized anxiety disorder , panic , major depressive disorder , mood , social psychology , economics , macroeconomics
The validity of the general neurotic syndrome, a combination of anxiety, depression and dependent personality disorder, was examined in a 2‐year study of outpatients with dysthymic, panic and generalized anxiety disorder diagnosed using a structured interview schedule. The general neurotic syndrome, found in a third of the patients, was associated with greater mental disorder and a significantly worse outcome than patients without the syndrome. It did not, however, predict response to treatment. Further analysis revealed that the general neurotic syndrome was a better predictor of short‐ and long‐term outcome than any other variable apart from initial psychopathology score. It is argued that the syndrome may represent a personality diathesis that makes the individual more vulnerable to both anxiety and depressive symptoms.