Dissertation
Stability and instability: A network of symptoms of borderline personality disorder and the bipolar disorders
Washington State University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
2023
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000005326
Abstract
Objective. Bipolar disorders and borderline personality disorder (BPD) are commonly comorbid conditions that may share many overlapping symptoms associated with emotional and behavioral dysregulation. In recent years, statistical methods for network analysis have gained traction in psychometric research. According to proponents of network analysis, this statistical method allows for the evaluation of psychological conditions as emergent conditions in which each symptom both influences and is influenced by other symptoms in the network. In comorbidity research, network analysis may help to illustrate which symptoms serve as “bridges” between disorders. Method. This study used archival data of clinical symptoms to elucidate the structure of and possible shared elements between these two disorders. Networks of symptoms of depression, hypo/mania, and BPD were created for three nested samples: Sample 1) At Least Subclinical, Sample 2) Single Diagnosis or Comorbid, and Sample 3) Comorbid.
Results. Samples 1 and 2 produced the most similar networks. Sample 3 was less strongly associated with Sample 1 and Sample 2, although the correlations were still statistically significant. The nodes with the greatest strength within the network for all three samples were all depression symptoms: MDE Sleep, Concentration, and MDE Low Mood. Community analysis largely reconstructed the original symptom scales. Two pairs of items: MDE Suicide and BPD Suicide and hypo/mania Risky Behavior and BPD Impulsive Behavior appear to serve as bridge items between the scales.
Conclusions. The results indicate that depression, hypo/mania, and BPD are separable, albeit related constructs that may be bridged by shared symptoms such as suicidality and impulsive or risky behavior. Limitations and future directions are discussed.
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Details
- Title
- Stability and instability
- Creators
- Madeline Nagel
- Contributors
- David K Marcus (Advisor)Christopher Barry (Committee Member)Karen Schmaling (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Department of Psychology
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 90
- Identifiers
- 99901031038801842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation