The aim of the study was to examine whether there are specific cognitive personality traits that are related to specific cluster C personality disorders as suggested by Beck's cognitive model. The study included 135 psychiatric outpatients and 41 healthy controls. The subjects were diagnosed according to DSM-III-R axis I and axis II. The cognitive dimensions of sociotropy, autonomy and dysfunctional attitudes were assessed. The results indicated some cognitive specificity, especially when the effects of a lifetime depressive disorder were statistically controlled for. Dependent personality disorder was significantly associated with higher scores on all sociotropic subscales and dysfunctional attitudes. Avoidant personality disorder was significantly associated with the sociotropic subscales “concern about disapproval” and “pleasing others” as well as dysfunctional attitudes, while obsessive-compulsive personality disorder was associated with only higher scores on the sociotropic subscale “concern about disapproval”.

The present study examined the dysfunctional attitudes and the personality styles of 40 psychiatric outpatients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and compared them to 33 outpatients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 41 healthy controls (HC). Scores on Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS), and Sociotropy-Autonomy Scale (SAS) were obtained for the three groups. Based on previous research it was predicted that higher levels of sociotropy subscales S 1 (concern about disapproval), and S 2 (attachment/separation concerns) would be specifically related to the diagnosis of OCD after controlling for differences in demographic variables and other psychiatric diagnoses. These hypotheses were confirmed. Significantly lower scores on subscale A 3 (solitary pursuits) was also found specifically related to OCD diagnoses. Higher scores on DAS and lower scores on autonomy subscale A 1 (independent achievement) were found to be particularly related to MDD. Implications of these findings for a cognitive model of the development of OCD are discussed.

This study explored whether obsessive-compulsive (OC) and depressive phenomena share common cognitive personality vulnerabilities. Specifically, the study examined the relationship of OC phenomena to sociotropy, autonomy and aspects of perfectionism, which traditionally have been associated with depression. A non-clinical sample of 152 subjects, mostly undergraduate university students, completed four questionnaires. Results indicated a significant relationship between depression and OC variables, with both relating significantly to autonomy, sociotropy and socially prescribed perfectionism. Correlations between OC phenomena and these cognitive personality styles were still significant after controlling for depression. Sociotropy and socially prescribed perfectionism predicted unique OC variance. Depression also predicted unique OC variance, controlling for the cognitive personality styles. It was concluded that OC and depressive phenomena share vulnerability centred on desires for approval. It was also recognized that depression-specific processes account for some of the covariability between depression and OC phenomena. Therefore, it was suggested that treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder may improve by attending to the reduction of depressive phenomena and to the modification of beliefs related to social-approval.