The consequences of depressive affect on functioning in relation to Cluster B personality disorder features.
The authors examined the effects of depressed affect (DA) on functioning measured by behavioral tasks pertaining to abstract reasoning, social functioning, and delay of gratification in relation to Cluster B personality disorder features (PDs) in a clinical sample. Individuals were randomly assigned to either a DA induction or control condition. Consistent with clinical conceptualizations, the authors expected that Cluster B PD symptoms would be related to maladaptive responding (e.g., poorer delay of gratification) when experiencing DA. As hypothesized, many of the relations between the Cluster B PDs and functioning were moderated by DA (e.g., borderline PD was negatively related to abstract reasoning, but only in the DA condition). However, many of the Cluster B PDs symptom counts were related to more adaptive responses in the DA condition (e.g., less aggressive social functioning, better delay of gratification). The authors speculate that individuals with Cluster B PDs may be more likely to respond maladaptively to alternative negative mood states, such as anger and fear.
Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-3013, USA. jdmiller@uga.edu
Joshua D
JD
Miller
Eric T
ET
Gaughan
Lauren R
LR
Pryor
Charles
C
Kamen
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors