Previous investigations indicate that within depressed populations personality disorders, particularly Cluster B and Cluster C pathology, are significant predictors of risk for recurrence of major depressive disorder (MDD). Lack of emipircal support, however, for the current organization of Axis II pathology necessitates the investigation of other factor structures as predictors of recurrence. An exploratory factor analysis of International Personality Disorder Examination (World Health Organization, 1996) items that represent DSM-IV Axis II criteria was conducted to evaluate the structure of personality pathology in a sample of 218 previously depressed young adults. Eight factors – named interpersonal hypersensitivity, antisocial conduct, unscrupulousness, social anxiety, identity disturbance, suspiciousness, misperception, and social avoidance – were identified. These personality pathology factors, along with relevant demographic and clinical covariates, were examined as predictors of MDD recurrence in 131 previously depressed college students. Survival analysis indicated that the set of personality pathology factors produced through exploratory factor analysis formed a significant model of MDD recurrence, after adjusting for baseline depressive symptomatology (p = 0.02). Individual personality pathology factors were examined as predictors of MDD recurrence. The factors of interpersonal hypersensitivity, antisocial conduct, and social anxiety were positively associated with the hazard of MDD recurrence, while controlling for the other personality factors. These three factors continued to exhibit a strong effect on the course of depression when controlling for gender and ethnicity, but did not when tested with clinical covariates. Of the models examined, the model of empirically-derived personality factors, controlling for gender and ethnicity, best fit the data (p = 0.006). IPDE total dimensional score, cluster scores, and the 10 DSM-IV personality disorders also were evaluated as predictors of risk for recurrence. Of these variables, only the total dimensional score of personality pathology significantly predicted hazard of MDD recurrence, controlling for baseline depressive symptomatology (p = 0.001). These findings suggest that an empirically-based approach to personality pathology organization may yield more reliable predictors of MDD recurrence. Additionally, the identification of interpersonal hypersensitivity, antisocial conduct, and social anxiety factors as predictors of risk for recurrence highlights the impact of interpersonal functioning on the course of depression during early adulthood.