title: Brief report--associations of personality disorder with early separation anxiety in patients with adult separation anxiety disorder.
abstract: A recent study has suggested a link between early separation anxiety and personality disorder. It is possible that this relationship is mediated or confounded by the presence of adult separation anxiety disorder (ASAD). In a clinic study of 397 anxiety patients, we found that ASAD patients with heightened early separation anxiety had higher rates of any Cluster C personality disorder compared to ASAD patients without elevated early separation anxiety, and higher rates of any Cluster B or C personality disorder compared to anxiety patients with low early separation anxiety and no ASAD. Although cross-sectional in design, the study supports a direct link between early separation anxiety and some adult personality disorders, irrespective of the type of adult anxiety disorder present, including ASAD.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Mental Health Research, The Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool NSW 2170, Australia. d.silove@unsw.edu.au
authors.forename: Derrick
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Silove
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marnane
authors.forename: Renate
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Vijaya
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Manicavasagar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D001010:Anxiety, Separation / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires