[Depression and aggression. A control group study on the aggression hypothesis in depressive disorders based on the Buss-Durkee Questionnaire].

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to prove the hypothesis that covert or inhibited aggression/hostility as described in psychoanalytic literature is part of the psychogenetic development of depression.

METHOD: We compared 50 consecutively admitted depressed inpatients to 50 healthy people of the regionally living general population, matched by sex and age, using the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory.

RESULTS

Depressed patients have significantly higher values in the BDHI subscales "total aggression", especially in irritability, negativism, resentment, suspicion and guilt, also in "attitudional component", "inhibited aggression" and "covert hostility". No differences were found in "assault" and "indirect aggression", controls got significantly higher values in "verbal aggression". A comparison of depressed patients with suicide attempts versus depressed patients without such behaviour showed no significant differences.

CONCLUSION

The psychoanalytic hypothesis seems to be useful for depression but not for the suicidal behaviour of depressive patients.