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Interrater reliability and internal consistency of the SCID-II 2.0 was assessed in a sample of 231 consecutively admitted in- and outpatients using a pairwise interview design, with randomized rater pairing and blind interview assessment.... more
Interrater reliability and internal consistency of the SCID-II 2.0 was assessed in a sample of 231 consecutively admitted in- and outpatients using a pairwise interview design, with randomized rater pairing and blind interview assessment. Interrater reliability coefficients ranged from .48 to .98 for categorical diagnosis (Cohen kappa), and from .90 to .98 for dimensional judgements (Intraclass correlation coefficient). Internal consistency coefficients were satisfactory (.71-.94). The results suggest that the SCID-II 2.0 has adequate interrater and internal consistency reliability.
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Notwithstanding its research and clinical relevance, the dimensionality and validity of the DSM-IV avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders (PDs) criteria is still a largely unexplored topic. The aim of this... more
Notwithstanding its research and clinical relevance, the dimensionality and validity of the DSM-IV avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders (PDs) criteria is still a largely unexplored topic. The aim of this study was to test the factor structure for DSM-IV Cluster C PD criteria in a sample of 641 consecutively admitted outpatients. Factor analysis results suggested that avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive PDs share a common latent dimension, and supported the three-factor structure of both observer and self-report ratings of DSM-IV Cluster C PD criteria. The pattern of factor loadings, however, was different from the one expected according to the DSM-IV classification.
Research Interests: Psychology, Psychometrics, Personality, Personality Assessment, Personality Disorders, and 14 moreBorderline Personality Disorder, Antisocial Personality Disorder, Italy, Humans, Personality Assessment Inventory, Personality Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Self Concept, Questionnaires, Reproducibility of Results, Severity of Illness Index, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Personality Inventory, and Confirmatory factor analyses
The influence of the model of object relations on modern psychodynamic research has led to increased emphasis on the importance of relations and traumatic events in the genesis of some psychic disorders, especially with regard to... more
The influence of the model of object relations on modern psychodynamic research has led to increased emphasis on the importance of relations and traumatic events in the genesis of some psychic disorders, especially with regard to personality disorders. The development of axis II in the DSM-III system has increased the number of empiric studies in this field. In this paper, the Authors report data relating to a sample of 49 subjects with personality disorders (DSM-III-R) in which the presence of sexual abuse, physical maltreatment and negative family atmosphere was examined using a self-administered questionnaire (CAT). The results suggest a significant presence of these events throughout the sample and reveal a correlation between some personality disorders and specific traumatic events. It may therefore be hypothesized that the presence of these events represents an important factor from the point of treatment, both in technical and in prognostic terms.
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To assess the internal consistency, factor structure, and construct validity of the Italian translation of the Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory-Short Version (YPI-S), both the YPI-S and its full version, the YPI, as well as... more
To assess the internal consistency, factor structure, and construct validity of the Italian translation of the Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory-Short Version (YPI-S), both the YPI-S and its full version, the YPI, as well as self-reports of delinquency, aggression, and Big Five domains, were administered to two independent samples (N = 868 and N = 881) of Italian community, nonreferred adolescents. The internal consistency of the YPI-S was adequate, and confirmatory factor analyses showed a good fit of the theoretical three-factor model of the YPI-S in both samples. Hierarchical regression models suggested the same pattern of associations with self-report measures of delinquency and aggression for the YPI-S and YPI, although the YPI was a better predictor of Big Five domains than the YPI-S. The findings support the internal consistency, factor validity, and construct validity of the YPI-S.
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To understand the similarities and differences in personality traits and moral disengagement associated with pathological narcissism and psychopathy, 740 Italian active community members who voluntarily participated in the study were... more
To understand the similarities and differences in personality traits and moral disengagement associated with pathological narcissism and psychopathy, 740 Italian active community members who voluntarily participated in the study were administered the Italian versions of the Pathological Narcissism Inventory, the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale, the HEXACO Personality Inventory, and the Moral Disengagement Scale. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that low Honesty-Humility and Antagonism (i.e., low Agreeableness) were personality traits common to both pathological narcissism and psychopathy, whereas low Conscientiousness was only related to psychopathy. Different associations with the HEXACO-PI scales and facets were observed for narcissistic grandiosity and narcissistic vulnerability, as well as for primary psychopathy and secondary psychopathy. Moral disengagement represented a common feature of pathological narcissism and psychopathy that was related to narcissistic vu...
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To assess how the maladaptive personality domains and facets that were included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) Alternative Model of Personality Disorders relate to adult attachment... more
To assess how the maladaptive personality domains and facets that were included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) Alternative Model of Personality Disorders relate to adult attachment styles, 480 Italian nonclinical adults were administered the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5) and the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ). To evaluate the uniqueness of the associations between the PID-5 scales and the ASQ scales, the participants were also administered the Big Five Inventory (BFI). Multiple regression analyses showed that the ASQ scales significantly predicted both PID-5 domain scales and BFI scales; however, the relationships were different both qualitatively and quantitatively. With the exception of the PID-5 risk taking scale (adjusted R = 0.02), all other PID-5 trait scales were significantly predicted by the ASQ scales, median adjusted R value = 0.25, all ps < 0.001. Our findings suggest that the maladaptive personality domains and traits listed in the DSM-5 Alternative Model of Personality Disorders show meaningful associations with adult attachment styles.
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The major aim of this study was to evaluate the factor structure of the Italian translation of the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale (LSRP) in a sample of 740 community dwelling adult participants. Hull method, minimum average... more
The major aim of this study was to evaluate the factor structure of the Italian translation of the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale (LSRP) in a sample of 740 community dwelling adult participants. Hull method, minimum average partial analysis and quasi-inferential parallel analysis techniques were used to identify a three-factor solution that appeared broadly consistent with previous work. The three factors exhibited reliability coefficients >0.70, and the three-factor structure was adequately reproduced across gender, educational level and civil status strata (median congruence coefficients = 0.94, 0.93 and 0.95 respectively) and remained largely unchanged when the effect of participants' age was controlled for (median factor score correlation = 0.99). Although Factor 3 in our study was demarcated mainly by reverse-keyed items, the LSRP factors yielded meaningful relations with retrospective measures of antisocial behaviour in adolescence and HEXACO personality traits and were conceptually consistent with the triarchic model of psychopathy of Patrick, Fowles and Krueger (2009).
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This study aimed to clarify the structure and the etiological constituents of schizotypal disorder (SPD) by directly interviewing pairs of twins. A latent class analysis was applied to each individual's outcome for specified SPD... more
This study aimed to clarify the structure and the etiological constituents of schizotypal disorder (SPD) by directly interviewing pairs of twins. A latent class analysis was applied to each individual's outcome for specified SPD items, such that each subject's phenotype could be redefined in terms of individual probabilities of class membership. Intraclass correlations were then calculated for each twin pair, and a standard univariate twin model applied. The best latent class analysis solution encompassed a model with four latent classes (three latent classes of SPD subjects, one of non-SPD). The intraclass correlations revealed a moderate to high heritability for two out of three SPD classes and for the modal class (a class composed of subjects that possessed a conditional probability of belonging to any of the SPD classes). Model fittings revealed considerable variation in the extent to which the different classes of SPD were influenced by additive genetic constituents or ...
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In order to evaluate if measures of DSM-5 Alternative PD Model domains predicted interview-based scores of general personality pathology when compared to self-report measures of DSM-IV Axis II/DSM-5 Section II PD criteria, 300 Italian... more
In order to evaluate if measures of DSM-5 Alternative PD Model domains predicted interview-based scores of general personality pathology when compared to self-report measures of DSM-IV Axis II/DSM-5 Section II PD criteria, 300 Italian community adults were administered the Iowa Personality Disorder Screen (IPDS) interview, the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5), and the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4+ (PDQ-4+). Multiple regression analyses showed that the five PID-5 domain scales collectively explained an adequate rate of the variance of the IPDS interview total score. This result was slightly lower than the amount of variance in the IPDS total score explained by the 10 PDQ-4+ scales. The PID-5 traits scales performed better than the PDQ-4+, although the difference was marginal. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that the PID-5 domain and trait scales provided a moderate, but significant increase in the prediction of the general level of personality pathology abo...
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In order to assess the internal consistency, factor structure, and ability to recover DSM-IV personality disorders (PDs) of the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5) scales, 710 Italian adult community dwelling volunteers were... more
In order to assess the internal consistency, factor structure, and ability to recover DSM-IV personality disorders (PDs) of the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5) scales, 710 Italian adult community dwelling volunteers were administered the Italian translation of the PID-5, as well as the Italian translation of the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4+ (PDQ-4+). Cronbach's alpha values were >.70 for all PID-5 facet scales and greater than .90 for all PID-5 domain scales. Parallel analysis and confirmatory factor analysis supported the theoretical five-factor model of the PID-5 trait scales. Regression analyses showed that both PID-5 trait and domain scales explained a substantial amount of variance in the PDQ-4+ PD scales, with the exception of the Passive-Aggressive PD scale. When the PID-5 was administered to a second independent sample of 389 Italian adult community dwelling volunteers, the basic psychometric properties of the scale were replicated. In this second s...
Research Interests: Psychology, Assessment, Psychometrics, Personality Disorders, Antisocial Personality Disorder, and 13 moreItaly, Cross-Cultural Comparison, Humans, Business and Management, Personality Assessment Inventory, Female, Male, Translating, Middle Aged, Adult, Volunteers, Reproducibility of Results, and Reference Values
A number of studies have reported data suggestive of a significant association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD). However, the nature of this relation is not fully... more
A number of studies have reported data suggestive of a significant association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD). However, the nature of this relation is not fully understood. This study aimed to evaluate if the relation between retrospectively assessed ADHD symptoms and adult BPD features is moderated by participants' gender and mediated by emotion dysregulation and impulsivity. Two hundred seventeen outpatients meeting DSM-IV criteria for at least one personality disorder (PD) consecutively admitted to the Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Unit of the Scientific Institute H San Raffaele of Milan, Italy, were administered Italian versions of the following instruments: Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Personality Disorders (SCID-II), Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11). Moderation analyses revealed a sig...
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In this study, the authors compared 2 samples of patients suffering from organic (N.29) and psychogenic (N.52) erectile dysfunction, with the aim of identifying psychological dimensions which could differentiate between the two samples... more
In this study, the authors compared 2 samples of patients suffering from organic (N.29) and psychogenic (N.52) erectile dysfunction, with the aim of identifying psychological dimensions which could differentiate between the two samples and adequate psychometric instruments to measure them. The following evaluation scales were used: Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire— Revised (PDQ-R), Symptom Check List 90 (SCL-90) and Defense Style Questionnaire—Short Form (DSQ-SF) in order to assess personality traits, psychiatric symptoms and defensive styles, respectively. PDQ-R, SCL-90 and DSQ-SF were found to be inadequate to differentiate between the two samples of psychogenically and organically impotent patients. Moving from this negative result the authors formulate some hypothesis on the possibility and the opportunity of research on this direction, and on the possible meaning of psychogenic impotence.
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ABSTRACT It is well known in clinical practice that psychogenic impotence affects younger patients than organic impotence and with a more acute onset. In the present study the authors evaluated the predictive usefulness and discriminating... more
ABSTRACT It is well known in clinical practice that psychogenic impotence affects younger patients than organic impotence and with a more acute onset. In the present study the authors evaluated the predictive usefulness and discriminating power of the following sociodemographic and clinical variables: age, kind of onset (acute or gradual), civil status, number of partners, duration of illness. The sample was made of 133 patients suffering from erectile dysfunction for at least three months, consecutively admitted to the Multidisciplinary Centre for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Impotence of the Scientific Institute San Raffaele of Milan from May 1992 to April 1993. All patients underwent a thorough clinical and laboratory evaluation: 72 (54.5%) were psychogenic (mean age 42.6±11.2); 60 (45.5%) organic (mean age 56.3±9.8). Stepwise logistic regression model identified age and kind of onset as significant predictors of kind of impotence. According to the logistic regression classification table, sensitivity for psychogenic impotence was 778, specificity was. 750, positive predictive power was .789, and negative predictive power was .738. These results indicate that age and kind of onset proved to be significant predictors of psychogenic impotence and to have a good clinical functioning as both inclusion and exclusion criteria. These results suggest that a patient in his forties and with an acute onset of impotence should be firstly assessed from a psychological point of view; and on the opposite, a 50 year old patient with a gradual onset presents a rationale for a thorough clinical evaluation.
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Research Interests: Psychology, Psychotherapy, Carbon Dioxide, Public Health, Humans, and 16 moreFemale, Male, Panic Disorder, Risk factors, Phenotype, Prevalence, Questionnaires, Adult, Regression Model, Stressful Life Events, Adverse Event, Clinical Study, Risk Factors, Life Change Events, General Population, and LIFE EVENT
In the present study the authors evaluated the relationship between personality traits (according to DSM-III-R) and poor metabolic control in an adult onset insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus sample (n = 77). Personality traits were... more
In the present study the authors evaluated the relationship between personality traits (according to DSM-III-R) and poor metabolic control in an adult onset insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus sample (n = 77). Personality traits were assessed with the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire--Revised. Metabolic control was evaluated through glycosilated hemoglobin (HbA1c): poor metabolic control was defined as HbA1c > or = 9% (normal values < 6.0%). Principal Component Analysis revealed three personality profiles: 'Cluster A/C Mixed', 'Cluster B Dependent' and 'Cluster B Aggressive'. Oneway ANCOVA, using sex as covariate, revealed a significant association (p = 0.01) only between poor metabolic control and Cluster B Dependent profile. No correlation was found between HbA1c and the other profiles. These data suggest that a specific personality profile is associated with poor metabolic control.
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Psychodynamic clinical studies as well as empirical research have pointed out the importance and the specificity of object relations in eating disorders. Given this, the aim of this work was to identify the presence of significant... more
Psychodynamic clinical studies as well as empirical research have pointed out the importance and the specificity of object relations in eating disorders. Given this, the aim of this work was to identify the presence of significant differences in the object relations patterns, as described by the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), between anorectic and bulimic subjects. PBI was administered to 42
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ABSTRACT In order to Test Fonagy’s (Fonagy & Bateman, 2008) hypotheses on the relationships among borderline personality disorder (BPD), mentalization, and attachment, nonclinical adolescents were assigned to a high-BPD group (n =... more
ABSTRACT In order to Test Fonagy’s (Fonagy & Bateman, 2008) hypotheses on the relationships among borderline personality disorder (BPD), mentalization, and attachment, nonclinical adolescents were assigned to a high-BPD group (n = 29), an average-BPD group (n = 31) and a low-BPD group (n = 29). Participants in the three groups were administered the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RET), the Lack of Emotional Clarity Scale from the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, and the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ). High-BPD adolescents scored significantly lower than low-BPD adolescents on the RET (d = −0.66), and significantly higher than both other groups on the DERS LEC. When the effect of the ASQ scales was controlled for, the high-BPD group did not show any significant difference from the other groups on mentalization measures. These findings were consistent with Fonagy’s (Fonagy & Bateman, 2008) model of BPD. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)
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The present study aimed to test if measures of emotion dysregulation and impulsivity additively predicted dimensional scores of borderline personality disorder assessed using the Borderline Personality Disorder Scale of the Personality... more
The present study aimed to test if measures of emotion dysregulation and impulsivity additively predicted dimensional scores of borderline personality disorder assessed using the Borderline Personality Disorder Scale of the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4+ in two independent samples of Italian nonclinical adolescents. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that three dimensions of emotion dysregulation (difficulties controlling impulsive behaviours when distressed, limited access to effective emotional regulation strategies and lack of emotional clarity) were significantly associated with BPD features in both samples. Further, impulsivity scores accounted for a significant amount of additional variance in BPD features above and beyond emotion dysregulation.
Research Interests: Psychology, Psychometrics, Emotional intelligence, Borderline Personality Disorder, Adolescent, and 14 moreDisease susceptibility, Emotions, Italy, Humans, Female, Male, Child and Adolescent Psychology, Regression Analysis, Clinical Sciences, Public health systems and services research, Analysis of Variance, Self report, Cross Sectional Studies, and Impulsive behavior
ABSTRACT Two independent studies that were based on two independent samples of non‐clinical adolescents were used to evaluate the association between bullying behaviour, personality traits, attachment style and risk behaviour (such as... more
ABSTRACT Two independent studies that were based on two independent samples of non‐clinical adolescents were used to evaluate the association between bullying behaviour, personality traits, attachment style and risk behaviour (such as substance abuse). In particular, Study 1 (N = 1024) was designed to test the associations between bullying and the Big Five personality traits measures. Low scores for Agreeableness and, to a lesser extent, for Conscientiousness characterized adolescents who reported the bullying behaviours. Study 2 (N = 763) was designed to explore the relationships between the bullying behaviours and the adult attachment construct and to evaluate the associations between bully, victim and prosocial attitudes and relationships with peers and substance abuse. The results of Study 2 showed that self‐reports of bullying behaviours were selectively correlated with dismissing attachment style, preference for relationship with deviant groups and excessive use of alcohol and use of substances. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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ABSTRACT In order to evaluate the nomological network of associations between psychopathy and its sub-dimensions, and Big Five domains and dispositional aggression in adolescence, and its consistency across gender-based sub-groups, 1253... more
ABSTRACT In order to evaluate the nomological network of associations between psychopathy and its sub-dimensions, and Big Five domains and dispositional aggression in adolescence, and its consistency across gender-based sub-groups, 1253 Italian high school students (F = 429, M = 824) were administered the Italian translations of the Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory (YPI), Big Five Inventory (BFI) and the Reactive–Proactive Aggression Questionnaire. Males scored on average significantly higher than females on all measures of psychopathy and aggression, whereas females scored significantly higher than males on the BFI O, C, A and N scales. Bivariate correlations between psychopathy scores, and aggression and BFI domains measures were highly similar in females and males. The majority of regression coefficients based on hierarchical regression models were consistently replicated across gender-based groups; effect size estimates for regression models were large, supporting the hypothesis that psychopathy can be described in terms of general personality traits in adolescence and that the relationships between psychopathy, its sub-dimensions and Big Five personality dimensions, and aggression generally are very similar across gender.
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With bariatric restrictive procedures a major issue is predictors of clinical outcome; non-surgical (compliance) and psychological factors might play a role in long term-results of bariatric surgery. We evaluated a set of predictors of... more
With bariatric restrictive procedures a major issue is predictors of clinical outcome; non-surgical (compliance) and psychological factors might play a role in long term-results of bariatric surgery. We evaluated a set of predictors of short-term and long-term clinical outcome including psychiatric and psychological variables, as well as measures of post-surgery compliance. 172 consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) with a minimum of 12 months follow-up, were studied; before surgery they were administered the NIMH Diagnostic Interview Schedule (Version III-R, DIS III-R) and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Personality Disorders (Version 2.0, SCID-II). After surgery, patients were scheduled for visits at 2-week intervals for the first 2 months, at monthly intervals up to 1 year and 3-monthly intervals for 2 years; compliance with diet, rules, physical exercise, plus integrated compliance (sum of scores), and percentage of attendance at scheduled visits were recorded. Patients were contacted again at 36 and at 48 months. BMI, compliance, percentage of attendance at scheduled visits (positively), and narcissistic personality (negatively) were all associated with weight loss at 12, 24 (and 36 months). Percentage of attendance was also associated at 48 months. At stepwise regression analysis, BMI and integrated compliance predicted weight loss at 12, 24, and 36 months, while percentage of attendance at scheduled visits predicted weight loss at 48 months. Narcissistic personality predicted weight loss only at 12 months. Adherence to scheduled visits and compliance to recommended rules, more than personality disorders, predict success of LAGB, at least during the first 4 years.
Research Interests: Bariatric Surgery, Treatment Outcome, Humans, Weight Loss, Female, and 16 morePersonality Disorder, Male, Patient Compliance, Follow-up studies, Mental Disorders, Body Mass Index, Obesity Surgery, Clinical Sciences, Adult, Public health systems and services research, Time Factors, Morbid Obesity, Physical Exercise, Stepwise Regression, Laparoscopy, and Predictive value of tests
Abstract The aim of the study was to test the mediator role of impulsivity, sensation seeking, and proactive and reactive aggression on the relationship between childhood Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms and... more
Abstract The aim of the study was to test the mediator role of impulsivity, sensation seeking, and proactive and reactive aggression on the relationship between childhood Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms and antisocial behavior in a sample of ...
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A meta-analysis of the published literature was performed to evaluate the common effect size (r) of the association between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). An online search from 1980 to 1995 was... more
A meta-analysis of the published literature was performed to evaluate the common effect size (r) of the association between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). An online search from 1980 to 1995 was used to gather published papers. r coefficient was used as an effect size measure, and 21 studies were retrieved. A moderate pooled r (.279) for the association between CSA and BPD was observed. Pooled effect size estimates were also obtained for CSA parameters. No significant effect of moderators was evidenced. The results of this study did not support the hypothesis that CSA is a major psychological risk factor or a causal antecedent of BPD.
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The passive-aggressive (negativistic) personality disorder (PAPD) is one of the most controversial personality disorders. In order to assess DSM-IV PAPD psychometric properties and comorbidity pattern in a mixed psychiatric sample, 379... more
The passive-aggressive (negativistic) personality disorder (PAPD) is one of the most controversial personality disorders. In order to assess DSM-IV PAPD psychometric properties and comorbidity pattern in a mixed psychiatric sample, 379 consecutively admitted in- and outpatients were administered SCID-II, Version 2.0. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that DSM-IV PAPD is a unidimensional construct with adequate internal consistency (K-R 20 = .85). A strong, specific association (odds ratio = 10.38, 95% CI = 4.83-22.30) was observed between DSM-IV PAPD and narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). Confirmatory factor analysis showed that DSM-IV PAPD should be considered as a subtype of a broader narcissistic disorder.
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The aims of this study were to assess whether Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) features could be predicted by Big Five traits, impulsivity, identity orientation, and adult attachment patterns in a sample of 1,192 adult nonclinical... more
The aims of this study were to assess whether Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) features could be predicted by Big Five traits, impulsivity, identity orientation, and adult attachment patterns in a sample of 1,192 adult nonclinical participants, and to evaluate the consistency of these regression models across four age groups (<30 years, 30-39 years, 40-49 years, and >50 years, respectively). In the full sample, measures of neuroticism (N), impulsivity, and anxious insecure attachment were substantial predictors of BPD features (adjusted R(2) = .38, p < .001). Attachment scales were significant predictors of BPD features across all age groups, but different scales were relevant in different age groups. Our results suggest that in nonclinical populations, BPD may represent a complex constellation of personality traits and disturbed attachment patterns.
Research Interests: Psychology, Personality, Personality Assessment, Personality Disorders, Quality of life, and 17 moreBorderline Personality Disorder, Stability, Italy, Humans, Child, Impulse Control Disorders, Aggression, Young Adults, Female, Regression Analysis, Interpersonal Relations, Social Adjustment, Middle Aged, Questionnaires, Adult, Age Factors, and Object Attachment
The aim of this study was to assess the specificity of the association between temperamental vulnerability, character deficits, and Borderline personality disorder (BPD), controlling for the effects of attachment patterns. A total of 44... more
The aim of this study was to assess the specificity of the association between temperamental vulnerability, character deficits, and Borderline personality disorder (BPD), controlling for the effects of attachment patterns. A total of 44 BPD patients were compared with 98 non-BPD patients with other cluster B Personality Disorder (PD) diagnoses, 39 patients with any cluster A or cluster C PD diagnoses, 70 patients with no PD diagnosis, and 206 nonclinical patients. All patients were administered the Temperament and Character Inventory, the Parental Bonding Instrument, and the Attachment Style Questionnaire. Multivariate and univariate tests showed that BPD patients differed significantly from all control groups on Novelty Seeking and Cooperativeness. These differences remained significant when controlling for the effect of attachment.
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The effects of acute and repeated administration of pyridoxine on serum prolactin levels were studied in 18 chronic schizophrenics, 10 women and 8 men, in whom hyperprolactinemia had been induced by long-term treatment with... more
The effects of acute and repeated administration of pyridoxine on serum prolactin levels were studied in 18 chronic schizophrenics, 10 women and 8 men, in whom hyperprolactinemia had been induced by long-term treatment with phenothiazines, haloperidol, sulpiride or clopentixol. The patients were divided into 5 groups: group 1 received 300 mg of the vitamin per os in a single dose; group 2 received 300 mg of the vitamin per os for 7 days; group 3 received 300 mg of the vitamin iv as a single bolus; group 4 received 600 mg of the vitamin iv as a single bolus; group 5 received 1200 mg of the vitamin per os in a single dose. Prolactin levels were examined before and 15, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 min after the single administration of pyridoxine, either iv or per os, and on days 3,5, 7 of the chronic administration. There was no decrease in prolactin levels either after oral or iv administration of the drug, given in single or repeated doses. Therefore, this treatment is not useful for the suppression of hyperprolactinemia induced by neuroleptics.
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This study aims to assess the relationships between measures of mindfulness, self-report, and interview measures of personality disorders (PDs) in a sample of 111 consecutively admitted adult outpatients. When PDs were assessed using the... more
This study aims to assess the relationships between measures of mindfulness, self-report, and interview measures of personality disorders (PDs) in a sample of 111 consecutively admitted adult outpatients. When PDs were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Personality Disorders, Version 2.0, borderline and histrionic PD, as well as the overall number of PD criteria met by each participant, were significantly predicted by mindfulness measures. When the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4+ (PDQ-4+) scale scores were entered in the regression equations as dependent variables, only the obsessive-compulsive PD seemed to be unrelated with mindfulness. The Mindful Attention Awareness Scale total score and the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire Act with Awareness scale were consistent, negative, and nonredundant predictors of PDQ-4+ dimensionally assessed PDs. As a whole, our findings support the hypothesis that low levels of mindfulness play a significant role in personality psychopathology, and particularly in borderline PD.
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Psychotic-like symptoms in patients affected by borderline personality disorder (BPD) are usually treated with low-dose neuroleptics, which show controversial acute effects and lead to a worsening of affective-related symptoms and to... more
Psychotic-like symptoms in patients affected by borderline personality disorder (BPD) are usually treated with low-dose neuroleptics, which show controversial acute effects and lead to a worsening of affective-related symptoms and to severe neurologic side effects after prolonged administration. Clozapine lacks the neurologic side effects of traditional neuroleptics and has been shown to successfully treat psychotic-like symptoms in BPD patients at medium dose. We performed an open-label trial of low-dose clozapine in severe BPD patients. Twelve BPD inpatients (DSM-IV criteria) with severe psychotic-like symptoms were studied. Exclusion criteria included comorbid Axis I and medical pathologies. All patients had followed a therapeutic program without improvement for at least 4 months before admission. The clozapine dose was titrated upward on an individual basis until the complete disappearance of psychotic-like symptoms was achieved. Clinician-rated scales were completed at the beginning of the study and after 4 and 16 weeks. All patients completed the 16-week study. Individual clozapine doses ranged from 25 to 100 mg/day. Psychotic-like symptoms decreased within the first 3 weeks of treatment, as confirmed by a statistically significant decrease in Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale scores. This amelioration was coupled with an overall improvement, including a reduction in impulsive behaviors and in affective-related symptoms (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression) and an increase in global functioning (Global Assessment of Functioning). Low-dose clozapine for acute and continuation treatment led to improvement in overall symptomatology in a small sample of severe BPD patients.