Personality disorders and traits should be assessed in studies concerned with the etiology and treatment of depression in women. There has been a considerable amount of research concerned with the effect of personality functioning on the etiology and treatment of depression, and much of this research has concerned personality traits and disorders for which significant gender differences and issues apply. The importance of personality functioning, and the particular relevance to women and gender-related issues, is illustrated in this paper with regard to dependent personality disorder and dependent personality traits. Implications for future research on the etiology and treatment of depression in women are provided.