Clinical correlates of stress induced personality disorder

Objective: This article starts with the finding that some patients with an Axis I disorder who appear personality disordered when acutely ill may represent a distinct clinical subgroup. It examines the clinical correlates of this "stress induced" personality disorder group. Methods: A group of male psychiatric outpatients (N = 165) was divided into three groups: The group with life-long personality disorders, "trait personality disorder [trait PD])" group (n = 24); the group with personality symptoms under the stress of an Axis I disorder, "stress-induced PD" or "state PD" group (n = 63); and a group that had no personality disorders, "no-PD" group (n = 78). These three groups were compared on personality variables by direct comparison and logistic regression. Results: Logistic regression showed a reasonable differentiation between the trait and state group. The variables of "reacts criticism," "suicide" and "needs approval" predicted the trait group while the variable "ashamed" predicted the state group. Logistic regression also showed reasonable differentiation between the state and no-PD groups. "Restricted expression of affect" predicted the no-PD group, while the variables of "acts childishly," "suicide", "sensitive to criticism," "acts emotionally," "feelings change," and "fearful" predicted the state group. The evidence seems to indicate the previously identified state group can be differentiated from its theoretical near neighbors using clinical criteria.