This study, proposed by a multidisciplinary team of investigators who have substantial experience in personality, aging, and epidemiological studies, will be the first prospective, longitudinal study of the stability and impact of personality pathology in later life. It will examine connections among personality traits, personality disorders, health, and social adjustment in an out-of-treatment sample of persons between the ages of 55 and 64-those approaching the challenges of later life. It will identify the extent to which personality and personality disorders influence the ability to adapt successfully to important life transitions. Nosological comparisons will be made between two different approaches to the definition of personality pathology: the approach represented in DSM-IV and the Five Factor Model of personality. Consideration will also be given to the incremental validity of informant reports (relative to self-report measures) of normal and pathological personality traits in predicting adjustment problems. A representative sample of adults living in the St. Louis area (n=1,500) will be identified and recruited using random digit dialing. Baseline assessments to be completed by all participants will include a semi-structured diagnostic interview (SIDP-IV) and two questionnaires, the MAPP, and the NEO-PI-R. One informant per target (most often a spouse) will also complete the MAPP and NEO-PI-R to describe the participant's personality. Axis I disorders will be assessed using C-DIS screening modules for mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Approximately 15 to 20% of this sample is expected to exhibit significant features of personality disorders, broadly defined. A longitudinal design will include follow-up assessments of personality and personality disorders at regular, 2-year intervals. Follow-up assessments of social functioning and marital adjustment as well as physical and mental health (including depression) will be completed every 6 months. We will also monitor the occurrence of major life events and transitions. Data from this project will fill an important gap in current knowledge regarding the stability and course of personality disorders and elucidate their impact on health and social adjustment over the lifespan.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH077840-05
Application #
8066605
Study Section
Adult Psychopathology and Disorders of Aging Study Section (APDA)
Program Officer
Niederehe, George T
Project Start
2007-05-24
Project End
2013-04-30
Budget Start
2011-05-01
Budget End
2013-04-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$530,629
Indirect Cost
Name
Washington University
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
068552207
City
Saint Louis
State
MO
Country
United States
Zip Code
63130
Eldesouky, Lameese; Thompson, Renee J; Oltmanns, Thomas F et al. (2018) Affective instability predicts the course of depression in late middle-age and older adulthood. J Affect Disord 239:72-78
Cruitt, Patrick J; Boudreaux, Michael J; Jackson, Joshua J et al. (2018) Borderline personality pathology and physical health: The role of employment. Personal Disord 9:73-80
Conway, Christopher C; Boudreaux, Michael; Oltmanns, Thomas F (2018) Dynamic associations between borderline personality disorder and stressful life events over five years in older adults. Personal Disord 9:521-529
Oltmanns, Joshua R; Smith, Gregory T; Oltmanns, Thomas F et al. (2018) General Factors of Psychopathology, Personality, and Personality Disorder: Across Domain Comparisons. Clin Psychol Sci 6:581-589
Balsis, Steve; Loehle-Conger, Evan; Busch, Alexander J et al. (2018) Self and informant report across the borderline personality disorder spectrum. Personal Disord 9:429-436
Iacovino, Juliette M; Bogdan, Ryan; Oltmanns, Thomas F (2016) Personality Predicts Health Declines Through Stressful Life Events During Late Mid-Life. J Pers 84:536-46
Few, Lauren R; Miller, Joshua D; Grant, Julia D et al. (2016) Trait-based assessment of borderline personality disorder using the NEO Five-Factor Inventory: Phenotypic and genetic support. Psychol Assess 28:39-50
Carlson, Erika N (2016) Meta-accuracy and relationship quality: Weighing the costs and benefits of knowing what people really think about you. J Pers Soc Psychol 111:250-64
Busch, Alexander J; Balsis, Steve; Morey, Leslie C et al. (2016) Gender Differences in Borderline Personality Disorder Features in an Epidemiological Sample of Adults Age 55-64: Self Versus Informant Report. J Pers Disord 30:419-32
Carlson, Erika N; Oltmanns, Thomas F (2015) The Role of Metaperception in Personality Disorders: Do People with Personality Problems Know How Others Experience Their Personality? J Pers Disord 29:449-67

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