Objective:

To compare clinical and psychosocial correlates in depressed adolescents with and without impaired personality functioning, focusing on the severity and prognosis of their conditions.

Key Findings:

• Adolescents with co-occurring depression and personality dysfunction exhibited significantly lower functioning across all personality domains (p < 0.05).
• This subgroup reported earlier onset and higher frequency of self-harm and more severe suicidal ideation.
• Higher levels of internalizing, affective, conduct, and PTSD symptoms were found in the personality dysfunction group.
• Greater exposure to emotional neglect was reported by adolescents with personality dysfunction.

Interpretation:

Impaired personality functioning in depressed adolescents is associated with elevated and multifaceted patterns of symptoms, including subjective distress and risky behaviors.

Limitations:

• The sample size was relatively small, limiting generalizability.
• The study relied on self-report measures, which may be subject to bias, potentially affecting the accuracy of the findings.

Conclusion:

Routine assessment of personality functioning in adolescents with clinically significant depressive symptoms is necessary for early identification and tailored interventions.