Personality disorders in offspring of mothers with mood disorders: Results from a longitudinal family study

Abstract

Offspring of mothers with mood disorders are known to be at risk for a range of adverse outcomes, but the prevalence of personality disorders (PDs) in this group is unknown. The goal of this study was to assess risk of PD diagnoses and symptoms in offspring of mothers with and without mood disorders, and to explore contributing factors to this risk. This longitudinal study assessed PDs and symptoms of PDs in offspring of mothers with bipolar disorder (O-BD), major depression (O-MDD), and no psychiatric diagnosis (O-WELL) in mid-adolescence and in early adulthood. O-BD were more likely to develop a Cluster B PD than O-MDD or O-WELL in adolescence, and more likely to develop a Cluster B PD then O-WELL in early adulthood. Dimensional analyses revealed that O-BD had elevated symptoms in PDs across all PD clusters at mid-adolescence and young adulthood. O-MDD showed elevated symptoms of antisocial PD at both time points, and of obsessive-compulsive PD at young adulthood. Offspring of mothers with mood disorders, especially O-BD, are at increased risk for PD diagnoses and symptoms in mid-adolescence and early adulthood. Contributing factors to risk of PD symptoms in at-risk offspring are discussed.

Offspring of mothers with bipolar disorder: a systematic review considering personality features

“…The studies included in this review emphasized dimensional analyses regarding the need for the development of early interventions, focused on the offspring of women with BD. 18,20,21 These analyses revealed that the offspring of mothers with BD presented elevated symptoms in all groups of personality disorders. They also presented an increased risk for these diagnoses to be made earlier, i.e., in mid-adolescence and early adulthood, when compared to offspring of mothers with unipolar depression or without psychiatric disorders.…”

“…All the articles included used quantitative approaches (Table 1). [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] Narrative synthesis of the set of findings allowed their categorization into three dimensions: 1) Reliability of instruments for prediction of future psychopathology in offspring of BD mothers; 2) environmental risk factors for offspring of BD mothers; and 3) early interventions, once identified risks were considered.…”

An Integrative Approach Using Third-Generation Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies for Avoidant Personality Disorder

“…Conceptualized in the context of the diathesis-stress model of psychopathology, L had a maternal family history of mental illness, which may predispose her to psychopathology for biological and/or environmental reasons (Cullen et al, 2014). L’s childhood was marked by impoverishment, the divorce of her parents, and a mentally unstable mother.…”