Changes in the Temperament and Character Inventory dimensions after paroxetine treatment in patients with major depressive disorder

Previous studies have reported changes in the dimensions of the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) after patients with major depressive disorder are treated. We aimed to investigate the changes in the TCI dimensions after paroxetine treatment in patients with major depressive disorder. Forty‐eight patients were enrolled in this study and were treated with 10–40 mg/day of paroxetine for 6 weeks. The TCI was completed twice, at weeks 0 and 6. We used the Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) to evaluate patients. The participants were divided into three groups (responders, non‐responders, and early responders) based on treatment response. The scores of each dimension of the TCI were compared before and after treatment using repeated‐measures two‐way analyses of variance. In the responders group (n = 24), no TCI dimension scores changed significantly during treatment, but the interaction between sex and MADRS score change was significantly associated with the results. In the non‐responders group (n = 15), the self‐directedness score increased significantly during the treatment period (p = 0.000), and the change in MADRS score significantly affected the results. In the early responders group (n = 9), no TCI dimension scores changed significantly during treatment. The results of the present study may reveal a possible correlation between paroxetine treatment and changes in personality traits. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.