Stressful life events as predictors of functioning: findings from the Collaborative Longitudinal Personality Disorders Study

Objective:  Although much attention has been given to the effects of adverse childhood experiences on the development of personality disorders (PDs), we know far less about how recent life events influence the ongoing course of functioning. We examined the extent to which PD subjects differ in rates...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica 2004-12, Vol.110 (6), p.421-429
Main Authors: Pagano, M. E., Skodol, A. E., Stout, R. L., Shea, M. T., Yen, S., Grilo, C. M., Sanislow, C. A., Bender, D. S., McGlashan, T. H., Zanarini, M. C., Gunderson, J. G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Biological and medical sciences
Humans
Life Change Events
Longitudinal Studies
Manic depression
Medical sciences
Neuroses
Neurotic Disorders - epidemiology
New England - epidemiology
Personality disorders
Personality Disorders - diagnosis
Personality Disorders - epidemiology
Personality Disorders - psychology
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
psychosocial functioning
Social Adjustment
Stress
Stress, Psychological
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Summary:Objective:  Although much attention has been given to the effects of adverse childhood experiences on the development of personality disorders (PDs), we know far less about how recent life events influence the ongoing course of functioning. We examined the extent to which PD subjects differ in rates of life events and the extent to which life events impact psychosocial functioning. Method:  A total of 633 subjects were drawn from the Collaborative Longitudinal Personality Disorders Study (CLPS), a multi‐site study of four personality disorders – schizotypal (STPD), borderline (BPD), avoidant (AVPD), obsessive‐compulsive (OCPD) – and a comparison group of major depressive disorders (MDD) without PD. Results:  Borderline personality disorder subjects reported significantly more total negative life events than other PDs or subjects with MDD. Negative events, especially interpersonal events, predicted decreased psychosocial functioning over time. Conclusion:  Our findings indicate higher rates of negative events in subjects with more severe PDs and suggest that negative life events adversely impact multiple areas of psychosocial functioning.
ISSN:0001-690X
1600-0447
DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0447.2004.00398.x