【United Evening News / Reporter Zhou Zongzhen / Tainan County Report】 2008.01.10 04:58 pm

The number of depression patients is increasing daily. Which personality traits are most prone to depression? The Chia Nan Psychiatric Center, under the Department of Health, has studied patients who have been receiving group psychotherapy since 2004 and found that seven types of personalities are most susceptible to depression, all of which exhibit "light" personality traits.

The "Mental Balance Team" at Chia Nan Psychiatric Center, through long-term observation and research on the psychological traits of depression patients, has likened the seven depression-prone personalities to seven animals:

• First, the scorpion, which is easily hurt in interpersonal relationships and self-protective, often unhappy due to others' unintentional faults;
• Second, the aggressive rooster, overly self-centered, always ready to fight with peers;
• Third, the magpie, which only cares about others, burying its own sorrows deep inside;
• Fourth, the little white rabbit living under others' scrutiny, where its beauty and the quality of its work are judged by others;
• Fifth, the buffalo that cannot refuse others, often enduring humiliation and accepting adversity;
• Sixth, the butterfly, shy of competition, despite having outstanding appearance and abilities, still feels inferior;
• Seventh, the koala seeking a good person to rely on, always feeling that life only has meaning when someone is there to depend on.

Dr. Guo Jiancheng said that a 30-year-old woman with a buffalo personality in the workplace, despite her excellent work performance, always felt that saying "no" would have bad consequences. She dared not refuse her boss's unreasonable demands, and her colleagues often pushed their responsibilities onto her. Even with overtime, she couldn't finish her work, and she also served as an emotional dumping ground for her friends. At home, she had to take care of the children and household chores, and cater to her husband's demands. Eventually, she was overwhelmed by the long-term accumulated stress. In Japan, many people have died from overwork due to similar reasons.

If a person with a rooster personality is a president or chairman, they might feel comfortable because few dare to challenge them. However, ordinary people should not act like "roosters" because they are easily hurt and ostracized. Such people usually lack self-reflection and only seek psychotherapy after major setbacks.

Koala-like people always need to cling to someone, like a koala clinging to a eucalyptus tree. They often inexplicably "fall ill" or become "depressed" to attract others' concern.

Butterflies always present a beautiful image in front of others but are actually very vulnerable. A beautiful executive at a well-known company had always performed excellently since childhood, and everyone thought there was no need to worry about her until she broke down. Such people strive for performance to cover up their inner unease.

Dr. Guo Jiancheng said that arranging group therapy for patients who do not know each other and are not in similar professions can significantly improve 80% of them. Compared to symptomatic medication, the effect is quite similar and can address the root cause. Simple interpersonal issues, once adjusted, almost never recur. Even those with genetic defects can reduce the incidence of the disease, and if it recurs, the severity will be lessened.

Dr. Guo Jiancheng said that the so-called "light" refers to "either neglecting oneself or neglecting others," either overestimating or underestimating oneself. It's like some cats mistakenly thinking they are tigers, being too arrogant and often inviting disaster; some tigers think they are cats, preferring to hide alone and not face problems.

Source: http://www. udn. com/ 2008/ 1/ 10/ NEWS/ HEALTH/ HEA1/ 4174756. shtml