From the author: In the DSM-IV classifier, depressive personality disorder (DPD) is included in the heading “For further research.” Over the past decades, more and more clinical examples illustrating the clinic of DPD have been found in the scientific literature. The main pattern of behavior in DPD is persistent depressive cognitions and behavior that are stable and are not caused by major depressive episodes and cannot be described by dysthymic disorder (!). In the DSM -III provides the following criteria for DLR (at least 5 are required):1. In the usual (ordinary) mood background, despondency, gloominess, joylessness, and sadness predominate;2. Self-esteem focuses on beliefs in one’s own helplessness and inadequacy; 3. Criticism, accusations and derogatory attitude towards oneself;4. Characterized by thoughtfulness and concern; 5. The dominant mood is negativism;6. Criticality towards oneself and others;7. Pessimism;8. Feelings of guilt and remorse. Psychological portrait: Joylessness; Pessimism; Excessive seriousness and difficulties with a sense of humor; Reduced self-esteem; Chronic and total feeling of guilt; Focus on negative aspects of life; Reduced social activity; Traits of dependence may be expressed; Hard Super-Ego ( ego-syntonic feeling of guilt); Organizing mental defense - introjection and idealization, sublimation, overcompensation; ===================================================== ===========Differential diagnosis. One of the differential criteria for distinguishing DLR from depression is that there is no effect from taking antidepressants and mood stabilizers. Another important differential criterion distinguishing DLR from affective disorders is the Gannushkin-Kerbikov criteria for personality disorders: 1. Totality - depressive cognitions spread in all spheres of life; 2. Stability - DLR criteria are stable and constant over time. There is no deterioration, improvement, remission, etc. They are stable and identical at different periods of life and are observed throughout life in thoughts, emotions and behavior;3. Maladaptation - personal characteristics lead to pronounced maladaptation. Comorbidity. Since DLR is classified as an oral type of fixation, you can notice a high comorbidity with addictions and eating disorders observed in client requests. DLR is often combined with masochistic personality disorder. DLR therapy has certain specifics - the therapist may exhibit countertransference, full of feelings of despair and hopelessness , which in a client with DLD, due to empathy, causes a feeling of guilt for this. The structure of therapy itself is built taking into account two strategies: a strategy for working with DLD (focus on awareness and acceptance of symptoms, followed by adaptation and the ability to control them) and a strategy for working with depressive experiences (CBT methods work especially well).========================================================= =========================You can get advice by contacting: Phone. 8-923-146-08-18Skype: Alexey Mossine-mail: [email protected]