Interpersonal problems across levels of the psychopathology hierarchy

Abstract

We examined the relationship between psychopathology and interpersonal problems in a sample of 825 clinical and community participants. Sixteen psychiatric diagnoses and five transdiagnostic dimensions were examined in relation to self-reported interpersonal problems. The structural summary method was used with the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems Circumplex Scales to examine interpersonal problem profiles for each diagnosis and dimension. We built a structural model of mental disorders including factors corresponding to detachment (avoidant personality, social phobia, major depression), internalizing (dependent personality, borderline personality, panic disorder, posttraumatic stress, major depression), disinhibition (antisocial personality, drug dependence, alcohol dependence, borderline personality), dominance (histrionic personality, narcissistic personality, paranoid personality), and compulsivity (obsessive-compulsive personality). All dimensions showed good interpersonal prototypicality (e.g., detachment was defined by a socially avoidant/nonassertive interpersonal profile) except for internalizing, which was diffusely associated with elevated interpersonal distress. The findings for individual disorders were largely consistent with the dimension that each disorder loaded on, with the exception of the internalizing and dominance disorders, which were interpersonally heterogeneous. These results replicate previous findings and provide novel insights into social dysfunction in psychopathology by wedding the power of hierarchical (i.e., dimensional) modeling and interpersonal circumplex assessment.

Components of School-Based Interventions Stimulating Students’ Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Domains: A Meta-analysis

“…The interpersonal domain was defined as the ability of an individual to build and maintain positive relationships with others and understanding social situations, roles and norms, and respond appropriately (Pellegrino and Hilton 2012 ; Shek and Leung 2016 ) in which one can experience competencies (e.g., sexual health, social competence, positive school climate) and problems (e.g., aggression, bullying). Although one’s development in these two domains has been associated with psychopathology, the domains and psychopathology are not opposite ends of the same continuum (e.g., Girard et al 2017 ). In the current meta-analysis, we focused on interventions stimulating the development in the intra- and interpersonal domains rather than preventing psychopathology.…”

Antisocial Disorders in Adolescence and Youth, According to Structural, Emotional, and Cognitive Transdiagnostic Variables: A Systematic Review

“…In other studies, psychopathy has generated advances in the understanding of the spectrum of AD, which is characterized by difficulties in establishing genuine interpersonal relationships, superficial affection, and chronic antisocial behavior [12]. Psychopathy also has been considered a continuum from primary psychopathy (emotional deficit) to secondary psychopathy (pathological level) with uninhibited profiles and interpersonal problems [13], aggressive behavior with anger dysregulation, and emotional withdrawal [14].…”

Therapeutic Atmosphere in Psychotherapy Sessions

“…Psychological difficulties often arise when interpersonal patterns are problematic and nonadaptive [7,8]. A patient's inability to form stable and rewarding relationships is a major risk factor for the development and maintenance of psychopathology [9]. In mainstream clinical psychodynamic theory, it is maintained that the patients' past relational history, affective experiences, and attachment patterns influence the ongoing interactions between patient and therapist [10,11].…”