title: Identity disturbance and problems with emotion regulation are related constructs across diagnoses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the relation between identity disturbance and emotion dysregulation in a cross-diagnostic sample. We assessed whether these constructs are related and relevant beyond borderline personality disorder (BPD).
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 127 participants who completed measures assessing identity disturbance, emotion dysregulation, anxiety, and depression. The sample included primarily depressed adults meeting criteria for multiple diagnoses as well as psychiatrically healthy participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Identity disturbance was significantly higher among psychiatric participants with and without BPD compared to healthy controls. Emotion dysregulation was a significant predictor of identity disturbance, even when controlling for BPD diagnosis, depression, and anxiety. In particular, clarity in emotional situations and problems using emotion regulation strategies were most closely related to identity disturbance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that future research should examine identity disturbance and its relation with emotion regulation transdiagnostically.
authors.affiliation: Duke University Medical Center.
authors.forename: Andrada D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Neacsiu
authors.forename: Nathaniel R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Herr
authors.forename: Caitlin M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Marcus A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: M Zachary
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007063:Identity Crisis; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015144:Southeastern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: depression; emotion dysregulation; identity disturbance; transdiagnostic