Ocurrencia, grado de afectación y controlabilidad de los eventos vitales en el desarrollo de la psicopatología: ¿impacto ambiental o consecuencia de una personalidad vulnerable?

II Jornades d’Investigació per a l’estudiantat de la Facultat de Ciències de la SalutIntroducción: La personalidad y los eventos vitales influyen en el desarrollo de psicopa- tología. No obstante, es posible que la afectación y ocurrencia de los eventos vitales no sea casual, sino que esté influenciada por la personalidad. Por ejemplo, el neuroticismo se ha asociado con la psicopatología internalizante y con informar de un mayor número y afectación de los eventos vitales. La impulsividad se ha asociado con los síntomas ex- ternalizantes y con sufrir más eventos controlables. El presente estudio evalúa en qué medida los eventos vitales influyen en el desarrollo de la psicopatología, una vez se con- trola el efecto de la personalidad. Método: En el 2004, 336 jóvenes (edad media = 21,68, dt = 3,85; 61,3 % mujeres) completaron el cuestionario de personalidad neo-ffi. Cinco años más tarde rellenaron la escala de eventos vitales isv y varios cuestionarios sobre síntomas internalizantes y externalizantes. Para alcanzar el objetivo, se realizaron análi- sis de regresión por pasos. Resultados: El neuroticismo, la responsabilidad, el número de eventos negativos y la afectación predijeron la sintomatología internalizante; mientras que la baja amabilidad, el neuroticismo, los eventos negativos y controlables y la afecta- ción predijeron la sintomatología externalizante. Todos los efectos se mantuvieron signi- ficativos cuando se controló la personalidad, a excepción de los eventos controlables. Discusión: Los resultados indican que, por lo general, el efecto de los eventos vitales en la psicopatología no se produce únicamente por la influencia de la personalidad, sino que estos tendrían un impacto directo en el desarrollo de la psicopatología.Introduction: Personality and life events influence the development of psychopathol- ogy. However, the involvement and occurrence of life events may not be accidental, but influenced by personality. For example, neuroticism has been associated with both in- ternalising psychopathology (e.g., depression) and reporting more involvement of life events. Impulsivity has been associated with externalising symptoms (e.g., drug con- sumption) and with experiencing more controllable events (e.g., imprisonment). This study assesses to what extent life events influence the development of psychopathol- ogy once the effect of personality is controlled for. Method: In 2004, 336 young people (mean age = 21.68, SD = 3.85; women 61.3%) completed the neo ffi personality ques- tionnaire. Five years later, they filled in the scale of life events ISV and various ques- tionnaires about internalising and externalising symptoms. To achieve the objective, stepwise regression analyses were performed. Results: Neuroticism, contentiousness, number of negative events and involvement predicted the internalising symptoms, while low agreeableness, neuroticism, negative and controllable life events and involvement predicted the externalising symptoms. All the effects of life events on psychopathology remained significant when personality was controlled for, except for controllable life events. Discussion: The results indicate that the effect of life events on psychopathol- ogy is not produced only by the influence of personality, but these have a direct impact on the development of psychopathology

General Psychopathology and Dysregulation Profile in a Longitudinal Community Sample: Stability, Antecedents and Outcomes.

The general factor of psychopathology (GP, or p factor) and the Dysregulation Profile (DP) are two conceptually similar, but independently developed approaches to understand psychopathology. GP and DP models and their stability, antecedents and outcomes are studied in a longitudinal sample of 1073 children (49.8% female). GP and DP models were estimated at ages 8 and 14 years using the parent-reported Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Youth Self Report (YSR). Early childhood antecedents and adolescent outcomes were derived using a multi-method multi-informant approach. Results showed that the general GP and DP had similar key symptoms and were similarly related to early-childhood antecedents (e.g., lower effortful control, higher maternal depression) and adolescent outcomes (e.g., reduced academic functioning, poorer mental health). This study demonstrates that GP and DP are highly similar constructs in middle childhood and adolescence, both describing a general vulnerability for psychopathology with (emotional) dysregulation at its core. Scientific integration of these approaches could lead to a better understanding of the structure, antecedents and outcomes of psychopathology

Influence of Multiple Traumatic Event Types on Mental Health Outcomes: Does Count Matter?

The experience of potentially traumatizing events (PTEs) may be associated with conflicting outcomes: individuals may experience greater psychological distress (dose-response theory), or individuals may become more resilient against repeated PTEs (stress-inoculation theory). With limited empirical data comparing these theories, we examined the relationships between the count of lifetime PTE types and psychological outcomes [posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, impaired distress tolerance] using linear and quadratic regressions. A linear relationship would support the dose-response theory, and a quadratic relationship would support the stress-inoculation theory. We also explored whether there was a threshold number of PTE types fostering resiliency before an increase of distressing outcomes. The sample included 123 (68.30% female) treatment-seeking patients at a community mental health center participating in a larger study (Contractor et al. in Psychiatry Research, 252, 252215–252222, 2017). Linear regression results indicated number of PTE types significantly predicted increasing PTSD and depression severity and distress tolerance difficulties. Quadratic regression model results were not significant. ROC analyses indicated exposure to at least 3.5 PTE types predicted PTSD with moderate accuracy. In conclusion, the dose-response theory was supported, with results indicating there may be a threshold count of lifetime PTE types (\u3e 3) influencing traumatic stress outcomes

Antecedents of personality disorder in childhood and adolescence: toward an integrative developmental model

Antecedents of personality disorder in childhood and adolescence have been a neglected area in official taxonomies of mental disorders such as the International Classification of Diseases or the different editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. An evolving research field, however, underscores the importance of antecedents for understanding psychopathology and personality pathology in adulthood. The current article summarizes the history, updates reviews, and incorporates new research findings into an integrative scheme for conceptualizing personality pathology in childhood and adolescence. Implications of this model for assessment, future research, and intervention are discussed

The Relationship between Personality Organization and Psychiatric Classification in Chronic Pain Patients

The assessment of PO is a crucial issue for diagnosis and treatment planning in CPPs, since it represents a measure of structural impairment that is to a considerable extent independent of axis I and II diagnoses. Moreover, the STIPO dimensional rating focuses on the most salient dysfunctions at a given time. Copyright (C) 2010 S. Karger AG, BaselBackground: The present study investigated the relationship between psychiatric classification and personality organization (PO) in a secondary/tertiary clinical sample of chronic pain patients (CPPs). Sampling and Methods: Forty-three patients were administered the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID I+II) and the Structured Interview of Personality Organization (STIPO). The prevalence of axis I and axis II disorders was correlated with the STIPO level of PO. The STIPO dimensional ratings of patients without personality disorder (PD) were compared to those of patients diagnosed with one or more PDs. Results: Axis I comorbidity was high (93%), and 63% of the patients met the criteria for at least one axis II diagnosis. Twenty-five patients (58%) were diagnosed as borderline PO, with high-level impairments in the dimensions `coping/rigidity', `primitive defenses' and `identity'. Higher axis I and axis II comorbidity corresponded with greater severity of PO impairment. No difference was found between the dimensional ratings of patients without PD and those of patients with one or more PDs. Conclusions

Contemporary perspective on addictive behaviors: underpinning mechanisms, assessment, and treatment

This special issue gathered contributions from authors in the scientifc community working on addictive behaviors. In particular, authors were solicited to relate about underpinning mechanisms, assessment protocols, and intervention programs that are currently proposed for substance abuse, Internet addiction, and other forms of problematic conducts in pediatric populations, adolescence, and adulthood. Most of the papers used a biopsychosocial model for the onset and maintaining of addictive behaviors and their comorbidities with other psychopathologies. Although the intent was accept contributions focused on all forms of addictive behaviors, this special issue is composed of four papers concerning problematic use of the web and two articles focusing on substance use. Of note, all papers addressed the developmental phases of childhood and adolescence

Psychopathology among youths who were victims of documented childhood maltreatment

Background: There is an established relationship between childhood maltreatment and later psychopathology, but most studies have used self-reports and only consider a small number of experiences. The main aim of this study was to examine predictors of psychopathology by comparing two sources (official records vs. selfreports) of ten different childhood adversities among youths who were identified by Child Protective Services (CPS). We also used a comparison group that was not identified by CPS. This study also compared, in terms of psychopathology, three groups of respondents (under-report; agreement; and over-report) based on the discrepancy between the two sources of childhood adversity. Method: The sample included 136 youths, ages 14– 23 years, identified by CPS prior to age 12 as being maltreated and who lived with their family for at least 5 years. The comparison group included 80 youths. Results: The identified youths were not different from the comparison group in global psychopathology. Psychopathology was associated only with the total amount of self-reported adverse experiences, with depressive symptoms being predicted by both documented and selfreported sexual abuse. Females reported and had more documented adversities, presenting an increased risk for psychopathology. The under-report group had a higher mean of documented experiences and a lower mean in psychopathology. Conclusions: Despite the limitations of a self-report methodology, our findings attest to its contribution in predicting health outcomes. Professionals from CPS need to be thorough when assessing and documenting the multiple experiences that may co-occur in a household, paying particular attention when young girls are involved, as the experience of sexual abuse has been shown to be independently associated with later risk of developing depressive symptoms. This process may increase the appropriateness of the chosen interventions.The authors thank the Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (PhD research grant, FCT - SFRH/BD/45414/2008) for financing this project. The authors also express appreciation to the staff of the Comissao de Proteccao das Criancas e Jovens. The authors have declared that they have no competing or potential conflicts of interest

Children's basic memory processes, stress and maltreatment

Building upon methods and research utilized with normative populations, we examine extant assumptions regarding the effects of child maltreatment on memory. The effects of stress on basic memory processes is examined, and potential neurobiological changes relevant to memory development are examined. The impact of maltreatment-related sequelae (including dissociation and depression) on basic memory processes as well as false memories and suggestibility are also outlined. Although there is a clear need for additional research, the investigations that do exist reveal that maltreated children's basic memory processes are not reliably different from that of other, nonmaltreated children

Personal relatedness and attachment in infants of mothers with borderline personality disorder

The principal aim of this study was to assess personal relatedness and attachment patterns in 12-month-old infants of mothers with borderline personality disorder (BPD). We also evaluated maternal intrusive insensitivity toward the infants in semistructured play. We videotaped 10 mother-infant dyads with borderline mothers and 22 dyads where the mothers were free from psychopathology, in three different settings: a modification of Winnicott's Set Situation in which infants faced an initially unresponsive ("still-face") stranger, who subsequently tried to engage the infant in a game of give and take; the Strange Situation of Ainsworth and Wittig; and a situation in which mothers were requested to teach their infants to play with miniature figures and a toy train. In relation to a set of a priori predictions, the results revealed significant group differences as follows: (a) compared with control infants, toward the stranger the infants of mothers with BPD showed lower levels of "availability for positive engagement," lower ratings of "behavior organization and mood state," and a lower proportion of interpersonally directed looks that were positive; (b) in the Strange Situation, a higher proportion (8 out of 10) of infants of borderline mothers were categorized as Disorganized; and (c) in play, mothers with BPD were rated as more "intrusively insensitive" toward their infants. The results are discussed in relation to hypotheses concerning the interpersonal relations of women with BPD, and possible implications for their infants' development