Clinical Scorecard: Personality Functioning Among Depressed Adolescents: Associations with Childhood Abuse, Mental Health Issues, Self-Injury, and Suicidal Thoughts

At a Glance

Key Highlights

• Adolescents with depression and personality dysfunction show lower functioning across all personality domains.
• This subgroup reports earlier onset and higher frequency of self-harm and severe suicidal ideation.
• Higher levels of internalizing, affective, conduct, and PTSD symptoms are noted in adolescents with personality dysfunction.
• Childhood emotional neglect is associated with impaired personality functioning and increased depression severity.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

• Assess for personality functioning in adolescents with clinically significant depressive symptoms.

Management

• Develop tailored, integrated interventions for adolescents with co-occurring depression and personality dysfunction.

Monitoring & Follow-up

• Regularly monitor self-harm behaviors and suicidal ideation in this high-risk subgroup.

Risks

• Increased risk for self-harm and suicide in adolescents with depression and personality dysfunction.

Patient & Prescribing Data

Adolescents aged 12-17 diagnosed with depression or significant depressive symptoms.

Personality dysfunction may complicate treatment response and increase chronicity.

Clinical Best Practices

• Routine assessment of personality functioning in depressed adolescents.
• Consideration of childhood maltreatment history in treatment planning.

Related Resources & Content

• Study on personality dysfunction in adolescents