Differences in Ego Functions between Those with Tendency to Atypical Depression and Those with Tendency to Melancholic Depression — Oak Academic Publishing
Research ArticleOpen AccessGoogle Scholar indexed
Differences in Ego Functions between Those with Tendency to Atypical Depression and Those with Tendency to Melancholic Depression
Graduate School of Health and Welfare, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, Okayama, Japan
,
Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, Okayama, Japan
,
Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, Okayama, Japan
,
Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, Okayama, Japan
,
Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, Okayama, Japan
1 Graduate School of Health and Welfare, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, Okayama, Japan
2 Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, Okayama, Japan
3 Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, Okayama, Japan
4 Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, Okayama, Japan
5 Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, Okayama, Japan
This study aimed to clarify ego functions of the university students having a tendency to atypical depression by comparing those with other students having a tendency to melancholic depression and borderline personality disorder. The answers to the questionnaires were obtained from 278 university students. The results showed that no difference was found in the total scores of ego functions and the scores of the sub-scales such as “synthetic-integrative functioning,” “sense of reality,” “control of impulses,” “objective relation,” “stimulus barrier,” and “autonomous functioning” between the students having a tendency to atypical depression and those having a tendency to melancholic depression; while the scores of the “defensive functioning,” one of the ego functions, were significantly higher in the students having a tendency to atypical depression than in those having a tendency to melancholic depression. This suggested that the students having a tendency to atypical depression may have a higher function of protecting their ego from conflicts than those having a tendency to melancholic depression.
KeywordsTendency to Atypical DepressionEgo FunctionsTendency to Melancholic DepressionDefensive Functioning
American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. Arlington, MA: American Psychiatric Publication. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596
Bellak, L. Hurvich, M., & Gediman, H. (1973). Ego Function in Schizophrenics, Neurotics, Normals. New York: Wiley.
Denda, K. (2009). “Depression” among the Youth: What is “New Type Depression”? Tokyo: Chikumashobo. (In Japanese, translated by the author of this article)
Fonagy, P., Rost, F., Carlyle, J. A., McPherson, S., Thomas, R., Fearon, R. M. P., Goldberg, D., & Taylor, D. (2015). Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial of Long-Term Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression: The Tavistock Adult Depression Study (TADS). World Psychiatry, 14, 312-321. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20267
Fukunishi, I., & Fukunishi, A. (2012). GSD Global Scale for Depression. Tokyo: Chiba Test Center. (In Japanese)
Fukunishi, I., & Fukunishi, A. (2013). Book to Know about New Type Depression. Tokyo: ASPECT. (In Japanese, translated by the author of this article)
Hayashi, H., Takei, Y. Fujimori, A., Takeuchi, I., & Hono, T. (in press). Characteristics of Parent-Child Relationship, Defense Mechanism and Ego Function of Atypical Depression: Through Analysis Using SemistructuredInterviews with Psychiatrists and Clinical Psychologists. Kawasaki Medical Welfare Journal. (In Japanese with English abstract)
Huber, D., Zimmermann, J., Henrich, G., & Klug, G. (2012). Comparison of Cognitive-Behavior Therapy with Psychoanalytic and Psychodynamic Therapy for Depressed Patients: A Three-Year Follow-Up Study. Zeitschriftfur Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, 58, 299-316.
Izawa, K. (1999). Persistent Effects of Traumatic Experiences on Borderline Personality Trait. Japanese Journal of Personality, 7, 88-98. (In Japanese with English abstract) https://doi.org/10.2132/jjpjspp.7.2_88
Izawa, K., Ohno, Y., Asai, M., & Okonogi, K. (1995). Construction of MCMI-II Borderline Scale Short Version and Examination of its Validity and Reliability. Archives of Psychiatric Diagnostics and Clinical Evaluation, 6, 473-483. (In Japanese with English abstract)
Kaiya, H. (2008). Book for Thoroughly Understanding Atypical Depression: Whole Aspect of New Type Depression to be Mistaken for “Capriciousness” and “Selfishness”. Tokyo: Kodansha. (In Japanese, Translated by the Author of This Article)
Kernberg, O. (1976). Object Relations Theory and Clinical Psychoanalysis. Maryland: Jason Aronson.
Klein, D. F., Gittelman, R., Quitkin, F., & Rifkin, A. (1980). Diagnosis and Drug Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders: Adults and Children (2nd ed.). Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins.
Klein, M. (1946). Notes on Some Schizoid Mechanisms. International Journal of Psycho-Analysis, 27, 99-110.
Millon, T. (1987). Manual for the MCMI-II (2nd ed.). Minneapolis: National Computer Systems.
Nakanishi, N., & Furuichi, Y. (1981). A Psychological Study of Ego Function: Development of Ego Function Inventory. Bulletin of the Faculty of Human Sciences, Osaka University, 7, 189-220. (In Japanese with English Abstract)
Nakanishi, N., & Sakata, T. (1989). Development of Ego Functions in Adulthood Ego-Oriented Counseling for Adults: A Study Based on the Result of Ego Functions Inventory (EFI) of Adults. Japanese Journal of Counseling Science, 21, 129-138. (In Japanese with English Abstract)
Nierenberg, A. A., Alpert, J. E., Pava, J., Rosenbaum, J. F., & Fava, M. (1998). Course and Treatment of Atypical Depression. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 59, 5-9.
Perugi, G., & Akiskal, H. S. (2002). The Soft Bipolar Spectrum Redefined: Focus on the Cyclothymic, Anxious-Sensitive, Impulse-Dyscontrol, and Binge-Eating Connection in Bipolar II and Related Conditions. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 25, 713-737. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0193-953X(02)00023-0
Perugi, G., Akiskal, H. S., Lattanzi, L., Cecconi, D., Mastrocinque, C., Patronelli, A., Vignoli, S., & Bemi, E. (1998). The High Prevalence of “Soft” Bipolar (II) Features in Atypical Depression. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 39, 63-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0010-440X(98)90080-3
Rodgers, S., Vandeleur, C. L., Ajdacic-Gross, V., Aleksandrowicz, A. A., Strippoli, M. F., Castelao, E., Glaus, J., Lasserre, A. M., Müller, M., Rossler, W., Angst, J., & Preisi, M. (2016). Tracing the Associations between Sex, the Atypical and the Combined Atypical-Melancholic Depression Subtypes: A Path Analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 190, 807-818. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2015.10.067
Sargant, W. (1962). The Treatment of Anxiety States and Atypical Depression by the Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor Drugs. Journal of Neuropsychiatry, 3, 96-103.
Takehata, Y., & Sase, R. (2015). Maladjustment of University Students: Assessment of Maladjustment and Over-Adaptation. OIU Journal of International Studies, 28, 65-71. (In Japanese with English Abstract)
Tokioka, R. (2015). Essay on Psychotherapy for Apathy and New Type Depression: With Attention Paid to Difficulties of Having Conflicts. Archives of Student Support in Kyoto University General Student Support Center, 45, 83-94. (In Japanese, Translated by the Author of This Article)
Vaillant, G. E. (1986). Vaillant’s Glossary of Defenses. In Vaillant, G. E. (Ed.), Empirical Studies of Ego Mechanisms of Defense (pp. 111-120). Washington DC: American Psychiatric Press.
West, E. D., & Dally, P. J. (1959). Effect of Iproniazid in Depression Syndromes. British Medical Journal, 1, 1491-1494. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.1.5136.1491