Personality Pathology Predicts Outcomes in a Treatment-Seeking Sample with Bipolar I Disorder

Abstract EN

We conducted a secondary analysis of data from a clinical trial to explore the relationship between degree of personality disorder (PD) pathology (i.e., number of subthreshold and threshold PD symptoms) and mood and functioning outcomes in Bipolar I Disorder (BD-I).

Ninety-two participants completed baseline mood and functioning assessments and then underwent 4 months of treatment for an index manic, mixed, or depressed phase acute episode.

Additional assessments occurred over a 28-month follow-up period.

PD pathology did not predict psychosocial functioning or manic symptoms at 4 or 28 months.

However, it did predict depressive symptoms at both timepoints, as well as percent time symptomatic.

Clusters A and C pathology were most strongly associated with depression.

Our findings fit with the literature highlighting the negative repercussions of PD pathology on a range of outcomes in mood disorders.

This study builds upon previous research, which has largely focused on major depression and which has primarily taken a categorical approach to examining PD pathology in BD.