Interpersonal Pathoplasticity in Individuals with Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Overview

Journal J Abnorm Psychol

Publisher American Psychological Association

Specialty Psychology

Date 2011 May 11

PMID 21553942

Citations 32

Authors

Amy Przeworski

Michelle G Newman

Aaron L Pincus

Michele B Kasoff

Alissa S Yamasaki

Louis G Castonguay

Kristoffer S Berlin

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Recent theories of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) have emphasized interpersonal and personality functioning as important aspects of the disorder. We examined heterogeneity in interpersonal problems in 2 studies of individuals with GAD (n = 47 and n = 83). Interpersonal subtypes were assessed with the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-Circumplex (Alden, Wiggins, & Pincus, 1990). Across both studies, individuals with GAD exhibited heterogeneous interpersonal problems, and cluster analyses of these patients' interpersonal characteristics yielded 4 replicable clusters, identified as intrusive, exploitable, cold, and nonassertive subtypes. Consistent with our pathoplasticity hypotheses, clusters did not differ with GAD severity, anxiety severity, or depression severity. Clusters in Study 2 differed on rates of personality disorders, including avoidant personality disorder, further providing support for the validity of interpersonal subtypes. The presence of interpersonal subtypes in GAD may have important implications for treatment planning and efficacy.

Citing Articles

The Contrast Avoidance Model: Conclusion and synthesis of new research in the special issue.

Przeworski A, Newman M J Anxiety Disord. 2024; 102:102830.

PMID: 38232491 PMC: 10923164. DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2024.102830.

Psychometric properties of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-C) used with a clinical sample of adolescents: a preliminary study.

Israel P, Langeveld J Scand J Child Adolesc Psychiatr Psychol. 2023; 9(1):87-95.

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Positive relations mediate the bidirectional connections between depression and anxiety symptoms.

Barber K, Zainal N, Newman M J Affect Disord. 2022; 324:387-394.

PMID: 36584704 PMC: 9893796. DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.12.082.

Assessing anxiety among adolescents in Hong Kong: psychometric properties and validity of the Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) in an epidemiological community sample.

Ip H, Suen Y, Hui C, Wong S, Chan S, Lee E BMC Psychiatry. 2022; 22(1):703.

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The naturalistic reinforcement of worry from positive and negative emotional contrasts: Results from a momentary assessment study within social interactions.

Newman M, Schwob J, Rackoff G, Van Doren N, Shin K, Kim H J Anxiety Disord. 2022; 92:102634.

PMID: 36182690 PMC: 10187062. DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2022.102634.

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