The longitudinal relation between personality disorder symptoms and depression in adolescence: the mediating role of interpersonal stress.

The relation between personality disorder (PD) symptoms, depression, and interpersonal stress were examined over 6 months in a sample of 143 adolescents from a low-income urban high school. Both self report questionnaires in the full sample and structured interviews in a subset of 54 girls indicated the following: PD symptoms predicted greater depressive symptoms and interpersonal stress over time; PD symptoms were highly stable; depressive symptoms did not predict change in PD symptoms over time. Moreover, an integrative model was supported, wherein the route by which PD symptoms led to greater depression was via the generation of interpersonal stress.

The stress sensitization hypothesis: understanding the course of bipolar disorder.

Background: The influence of psychosocial stress on the course of bipolar disorder has been increasingly recognized. The authors tested hypotheses about both stress and early adversity "sensitization" on the course of bipolar disorder over a one-year period.

Methods: The participants were 58 adults (29 male and 29 female) with a diagnosis of bipolar I disorder.

Expressed emotion versus relationship quality variables in the prediction of recurrence in bipolar patients.

Background: The expressed emotion (EE) construct has predicted clinical outcomes in schizophrenia and depression, but few studies have been conducted with bipolar patients. Moreover, there is a particular dearth of information regarding the prediction of depressive versus manic episodes in bipolar patients. Questions also remain about the utility of EE compared to other variables (perceived criticism, relationship negativity, and chronic strain in close relationships) that more directly evaluate interpersonal stress and about specific predictions of mania or depression.

Effects of stress and social support on recurrence in bipolar disorder.

Background: Limited research has examined the impact of social support on the course of bipolar disorder, although results suggest a probable link. This study examines prospectively the effects of stressful events and social support on episode recurrence in bipolar I disorder.

Methods: Fifty-two outpatients with bipolar I disorder recruited from an urban community were followed every 3 months for up to 1 year.

Depressive symptoms and close relationships during the transition to adulthood: perspectives from dysphoric women, their best friends, and their romantic partners.

Late adolescent women's depressive symptoms and interpersonal functioning were assessed using reports from participants, their best friends, and their romantic partners. As predicted, the associations between relationship dysfunction and dysphoria were stronger in romantic relationships than in friendships. Unlike friends, romantic partners perceived dysphoric women as having poorer social skills.

Borderline personality disorder symptoms as predictors of 4-year romantic relationship dysfunction in young women: addressing issues of specificity.

The relationships between romantic relationship dysfunction and symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD), other personality disorders, and depression were examined prospectively in a community sample of 142 late adolescent women. Although BPD symptoms predicted 4-year romantic dysfunction (romantic chronic stress, conflicts, partner satisfaction, abuse, and unwanted pregnancy), the associations were not unique to BPD. Instead, relationship dysfunction was better predicted by a cumulative index of non-BPD Axis II pathology.