title: Personality subtypes in adolescents with panic disorder.
abstract: This study examined personality subtypes of adolescents diagnosed with Panic Disorder (PD). As part of an NIMH-funded study of adolescent personality and its relation to psychopathology, randomly selected experienced licensed psychologists and psychiatrists used a Q-sort instrument to describe adolescents in their care, of whom 57 had been diagnosed with PD. Q-factor analysis yielded three personality subtypes: High Functioning/Dysphoric, Emotionally Dysregulated, and Avoidant. The subtypes differed on axis I and II pathology, adaptive functioning, and developmental and family history variables. Personality constellations showed substantial incremental validity in predicting adaptive functioning above and beyond DSM-IV axis I diagnoses. The results resemble subtypes recently identified in adults and suggest that adolescents who present with panic symptoms are a heterogeneous group, whose personality needs to be considered in understanding and helping them clinically.
authors.affiliation: Washington University in Saint Louis, USA.
authors.forename: Abigail D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Powers
authors.forename: Drew
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Westen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015897:Comorbidity; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D010551:Personality / Q000145:classification*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011779:Q-Sort / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results