Predominance of anger in depressive disorders compared with anxiety disorders and somatoform disorders

OBJECTIVE: The object of this study was to make a comparison regarding various dimensions of anger between depressive disorder and anxiety disorder or somatoform disorder. METHOD: The subjects included 73 patients with depressive disorders, 67 patients with anxiety disorders, 47 patients with somatoform disorders, and 215 healthy controls (diagnoses made according to DSM-IV criteria). Anger measures--the Anger Expression Scale, the hostility subscale of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), and the anger and aggression subscales of the Stress Response Inventory--were used to assess the anger levels. The severity of depression, anxiety, phobia, and somatization was assessed using the SCL-90-R. RESULTS: The depressive disorder group showed significantly higher levels of anger on the Stress Response Inventory than the anxiety disorder, somatoform disorder, and control groups (p < .05). The depressive disorder group scored significantly higher on the anger-out and anger-total subscales of the Anger Expression Scale than the somatoform disorder group (p < .05). On the SCL-90-R hostility subscale, the depressive disorder group also scored significantly higher than the anxiety disorder group (p < .05). Within the depressive disorder group, the severity of depression was significantly positively correlated with the anger-out score (r = 0.49, p < .001), whereas, in the somatoform and anxiety disorder groups, the severity of depression was significantly positively correlated with the anger-in score (somatoform disorder: r = 0.51, p < .001; anxiety disorder: r = 0.57, p < .001). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that depressive disorder patients are more likely to have anger than anxiety disorder or somatoform disorder patients and that depressive disorder may be more relevant to anger expression than somatoform disorder.     

P wave changes in patients with depression or anxiety disorder

Background and Objective: Activation of the sympathetic nervous system plays an important role in regulating cardiovascular actions. P wave parameters can provide general information on central cardiovascular autonomic regulatory responses, which are altered in patients with anxiety disorders and depression. Material and Methods: The P wave duration was measured in 71 consecutive patients with two different psychiatric diagnoses (depression and anxiety disorders) and in 50 physically and mentally healthy age- and gender-matched controls. The psychiatric diseases were diagnosed using DSM-IV and clinical review. The depression and anxiety levels were also scored using the Beck and Hamilton depression scales and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scale. Result: Both the maximum (Pmax) and minimum (Pmin) P wave duration were greater in the patients with psychiatric disorders than in the healthy controls; Pmax was significantly greater in patients with depression or anxiety disorders (p<0.01). Although Pmin of anxiety patients was longer than controls, the difference was non-significant between groups (Bonferroni test, p=0.02). The Beck depression results were positively correlated with Pmin and Pmax (p<0.01). Age was positively correlated with PWD, and this correlation was independent of the psychiatric disorders (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our results suggest that the psychiatric disorders are associated with increases in Pmax and Pmin. The changes were associated with the degree of depression and the presence of anxiety disorder.     

The Relationship between Depression,Anxiety, Somatization,Personality and Symptoms of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Suggestive of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

This study investigated the relationship of personality, depression, somatization, anxiety with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH). The LUTS/BPH patients were evaluated with the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), 44-item Big Five Inventory (BFI), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the PHQ-15, and 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7). The LUTS/BPH symptoms were more severe in patients with depression (p=0.046) and somatization (p=0.024), respectively. Neurotic patients were associated with greater levels of depression, anxiety and somatisation (p=0.0059, p=0.004 and p=0.0095, respectively). Patients with high extraversion showed significantly low depression (p=0.00481) and anxiety (p=0.035) than those with low extraversion. Our exploratory results suggest patients with LUTS/BPH may need careful evaluation of psychiatric problem including depression, anxiety and somatization. Additional studies with adequate power and improved designs are necessary to support the present exploratory findings.     

Psychopathology and clinical features in an Italian sample of patients with myofascial and temporomandibular joint pain: preliminary data

OBJECTIVE: Aim of this study was to provide data on the relationships between psychopathological variables and temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Sixty-three TMD patients were investigated using clinical and anamnestical psychiatric informations and psychopathological measures. METHODS: Three groups of TMD patients were recruited according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD guidelines: a group of patients presenting myofascial pain alone (RDC/TMD axis I group I), a group with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain alone (RDC/TMD axis I group IIIa, IIIb), and a group presenting both myofascial and TMJ pain. Two secondary groups were identified on the basis of the presence/absence of myofascial pain. The study design provided a psychiatric interview and psychometric assessment including the Symptom Check List-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS). RESULTS: --Psychiatric evaluation: Myofascial pain patients had higher scores for personal psychiatric history and a history of more frequent psychotropic drug use. --HDRS and HARS: The sample presented scores indicating mild depressive symptoms and moderate anxiety symptoms. --SCL-90-R: The global sample showed acute levels of psychological distress as measured by the GSI score (Global Severity Index). Myofascial pain patients scored higher than TMJ pain patients in the GSI (p = .028), PAR (paranoia; p = .015), PSY (psychoticism; p = .032), and HOS (hostility; p = .034) subscales. CONCLUSIONS: TMD patients showed elevated levels of depression, somatization, and anxiety. These characteristics did not differ significantly between patients with myofascial or TMJ pain. Other specific psychopathological dimensions, detected with SCL-90-R, appeared to be closely associated to the myofascial component.     

Cross-cultural differences in somatic presentation in patients with generalized anxiety disorder

Little is known about cultural differences in the expression of distress in anxiety disorders. Previous cross-cultural studies of depression have found a greater somatic focus in Asian populations. We examined anxiety symptoms in patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in urban mental health settings in Nepal (N = 30) and in the United States (N = 23). Participants completed the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). The overall BAI score and somatic and psychological subscales were compared. While there was no difference in total BAI scores, the Nepali group scored higher on the somatic subscale (i.e. "dizziness" and "indigestion," t[df] = -2.63[50], p < 0.05), while the American group scored higher on the psychological subscale (i.e. "scared" and "nervous," t[df] = 3.27[50], p < 0.01). Nepali patients with GAD had higher levels of somatic symptoms and lower levels of psychological symptoms than American patients with GAD. Possible explanations include differences in cultural traditions of describing distress and the mind-body dichotomy.     

躯体化症状为主抑郁症患者的述情障碍

目的:探讨以躯体化症状为主抑郁症患者和以情绪症状为主抑郁症患者述情障碍的差异。方法:50例以躯体化症状为主抑郁症患者(躯体症状组)、50例以情绪症状为主抑郁症患者(情绪症状组)和50名正常健康者(正常对照组)参加研究,采用90项症状自评量表(SCL-90)、汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HAMD)和多伦多述情障碍量表进行评定。结果:躯体症状组SCL-90总分、躯体化、焦虑、人际敏感、恐怖、偏执因子分及HAMD的焦虑/躯体化因子评分均高于情绪症状组(P<0.01或P<0.05),情绪症状组在强迫、抑郁因子评分及HAMD的认知障碍、阻滞、日夜变化、睡眠障碍及绝望因子分高于躯体症状组(P<0.05或P<0.01)。躯体症状组与情绪症状组仅在述情障碍因子II评分差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),而在述情障碍总分及因子分上均高于正常对照组(P<0.05或P<0.001)。结论:以躯体化症状为主和以情绪症状为主抑郁症患者均存在述情障碍,以前者更缺乏识别情绪和躯体感受能力。     

焦虑障碍患者性别及文化程度差异与其心理特征

目的通过对焦虑障碍患者个性倾向、自我效能感、焦虑特质等影响因素的相关研究,探讨不同性别不同文化程度焦虑障碍患者的心理特征。方法采用病例对照研究,对144例焦虑障碍患者和144例健康人利用中国人个性量表-情感量表（CPA12-E）,贝克焦虑自评量表（BAI）、汉密尔顿焦虑量表（HAMA）、焦虑-状态特质问卷（STAI）、自我效能感量表（GSES）评定。结果（1）女性患者抑郁因子、躯体紧张子因子分高于男性（P〈0．05）,而男性的性兴趣因子得分高于女性,差异具有显著性意义（P〈0．05或P〈0．01）;（2）不同文化程度焦虑障碍患者躯体症状因子和躯体化因子得分存在显著差异（P〈0．05）,文化程度较低者得分较高。结论（1）男性性习惯趋向不良高于女性,而女性抱怨等消极情感倾向和敏感、易激惹的躯体症状倾向突出,自我效能感更低;（2）低文化程度患者较多存在躯体症状和躯体化个性倾向。     

Dysthymic states and depressive syndromes in physical conditions of presumably psychogenic origin

This paper reports studies of patients with the following disorders: peptic ulcer, hypertension, bronchial asthma, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), ulcerative colitis (UC), urticaria, psoriasis and alopecia. The investigations focused on dysthymic states, measured by Foulds' Scale of Anxiety and Depression (SAD) and--except for the first three disorders--the Present State Examination (PSE). On the SAD, all the above groups scored significantly higher than somatically ill controls in anxiety, and all except ulcer patients scored significantly higher in depression. The PSE designated more than half of these patients as cases, except in the psoriasis group. Most patients were assigned to the PSE syndromes of anxiety states or neurotic depression, with the former being more common in UC and urticaria, and the latter more common in IBS, alopecia and rheumatoid arthritis. The variation within skin diseases and within gastrointestinal diseases suggests that neurotic symptoms are typical of each disease rather than of the system involved in the disturbance.     

Gender differences in psychological effect of the August 1999 earthquake in Turkey

Disasters traumatically expose normal populations to severe threats to life, deaths of relatives and massive environmental destruction. Epidemiological studies found that women would be more vulnerable to disaster than men. In this study, we examined gender differences in short-term psychological effect of the 1999 earthquake in Turkey on adult survivors. A total of 184 subjects (79 males and 105 females) who used a psychiatric service were interviewed within 6-10 weeks after the earthquake. All subjects were assessed using a modified version of the Mississippi Scale for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Beck Hopelessness Scale, and four subscales (depression, anxiety, hostility and somatization) of the Symptom Check List (SCL-90-R). Women had higher mean total Mississippi Scale scores than men (84.29 vs. 78.72; P<0.05). Women scored higher on the Beck Depression Inventory and the Beck Hopelessness Scale than men (respectively 16.3 vs. 10.4; P<0.001 and 7.5 vs. 6.0; P<0.05). Women had significantly higher depression (1.40 vs. 0.94; P<0.001), anxiety (1.46 vs. 1.12; P<0.05) and somatization (1.31 vs. 0.84; P<0.001) subscale scores of the SCL-90-R than men. These findings indicate that women may experience more severe psychological reactions than men after a disastrous earthquake.     

The nosologic status of borderline personality: clinical and polysomnographic study

The REM latencies of 24 nonschizotypal borderline outpatients--who were not in the midst of a major depressive episode--were in the range of those of 30 patients with primary major depression but were significantly shorter than those of 16 patients with nonborderline personality disorders and 14 nonpsychiatric controls. Also, more of the borderline subjects had lifetime diagnoses of affective disorder, such as dysthymic, cyclothymic, and bipolar II disorder, and of a spectrum of anxiety and somatization disorders. The authors conclude that contemporary operational criteria for borderline disorder identify a wide net of temperamental disorders with strong affective coloring rather than a unitary nosologic entity.     

Cognitive emotion regulation strategies contributing to resilience in patients with depression and/or anxiety disorders

Objective

Research suggests that resilience is associated with favorable treatment outcome in patients with depression and/or anxiety disorders. In this regard, the identification of specific characteristics related to resilience that could provide targets for resilience-enhancement interventions is needed. Since the type of cognitive coping strategies is a possible marker of resilience, we investigated adaptive and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies contributing to resilience in patients with depression and/or anxiety disorders.

Methods

A total of 230 outpatients with depression and anxiety disorders were consecutively recruited and completed the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the State Anxiety Inventory. A linear regression model was used to determine which cognitive emotion regulation strategies predicted resilience after controlling for relevant covariates. Additionally, this model of resilience was compared with those of depression and anxiety symptoms.

Results

Adaptive strategies were more strongly correlated with resilience than maladaptive strategies. In the regression model, more use of refocus on planning and positive reappraisal as well as less use of rumination predicted high resilience after controlling for age, gender, marital status, depression, and anxiety. Among these strategies, refocus on planning was the common strategy contributing to resilience and depression.

Conclusion

These results suggested that the cognitive emotion regulation strategies of refocus on planning, positive reappraisal, and less rumination contribute to resilience in patients with depression and anxiety disorders. It might provide potential targets for psychotherapeutic intervention to improve resilience in these patients.     

Depression and anxiety in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease and cystic fibrosis

The lifetime and current prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders was determined in 41 children with Crohn's disease, 12 children with ulcerative colitis, and 52 children with cystic fibrosis, using the Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia interview. The lifetime prevalence of depression was 29% in Crohn's disease, 21% in ulcerative colitis, and 11.5% in cystic fibrosis. The difference in the prevalence of depression between Crohn's disease and cystic fibrosis was significant (p less than 0.05). The lifetime and current prevalence of dysthymia was significantly greater in ulcerative colitis than Crohn's disease (p less than 0.01) or cystic fibrosis (p less than 0.01). The lifetime prevalence of atypical depression was significantly greater in Crohn's disease than cystic fibrosis (22% versus 5.8%, p less than 0.05) and was also greater in ulcerative colitis than cystic fibrosis (21% versus 5.8%, p = 0.1). There was no difference between the groups in the current prevalence of major depression or atypical depression, or in the lifetime or current prevalence of anxiety disorders.     

State and trait anxiety in women affected by allergic and vasomotor rhinitis

It is still debatable whether anxiety and depression in patients affected by rhinitis could play a role in the genesis of the disease, whether they are a consequence of the symptoms. The aim of this study was to evaluate anxiety levels in both state and trait forms, and depression, in patients affected by allergic (AR) and vasomotor rhinitis (VMR). A total of 45 women, 24 AR and 21 VMR were compared with 64 healthy nonallergic women matched for age and sociodemographic characteristics. All subjects were administered the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Zung self-rating depression scale. The percentage of subjects with high levels of state anxiety was significantly higher in AR (p<0.005) and VMR (p<0.01) with respect to controls. The percentage of subjects with high levels of trait anxiety was significantly higher in AR (p<0.001) and VMR (p<0.05) than controls. There was no significant difference in depression between AR and VMR and controls. No significant difference was found in state anxiety, trait anxiety, or depression between AR and VMR. In conclusion, anxiety in patients with rhinitis is present both as a state and as a trait, at least when measured with the STAI.     

The role of disability and depression in cognitive functioning within 2 years after multiple sclerosis diagnosis

OBJECTIVES: To investigate cognitive functioning shortly after multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis and to examine the relationship with disability, depression and anxiety. METHODS: Data were available for 101 recently diagnosed MS patients and 117 healthy controls. Neuropsychological and clinical assessment included Rao's Brief Repeatable Battery, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS). RESULTS: Patients had lower scores than controls on timed tasks (Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT3, p-value adjusted for age, sex and education = 0.04; PASAT2, p = 0.001), Word List Generation Test (WLG, p = 0.04)). Scores on Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT; p = 0.001), PASAT3 (p = 0.01) and PASAT2 (p < 0.001) showed significant association with EDSS. Patients with EDSS >or= 3.0 had significantly lower scores on Selective Reminding Test (SRTC, p = 0.04), SDMT (p = 0.002), PASAT3 (p = 0.002), PASAT2 (p < 0.001) and WLG (p = 0.01) than controls from the general population. Patients with clinically borderline scores of depression scored lower on SDMT (49.5 versus 57.1, p = 0.06) and PASAT3 (39.8 versus 47.1, p = 0.03). However, after adjustment for EDSS and time since disease onset, these differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Within two years after diagnosis, patients with MS had lower scores compared to healthy controls on timed tasks, suggesting cognitive slowing in patients with early MS. Cognitive impairment was associated with symptoms of depression, but this association could be explained by differences in disability.     

Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED): convergent and divergent validity

The purpose of this study was to examine the Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders' (SCARED) divergent and convergent validity and its ability to identify anxious children. The SCARED, the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC) were administered to children, adolescents (n = 295), and their parents attending an outpatient mood and anxiety disorders clinic. DSM-IIIR/IV diagnoses were made using a semistructured interview (n = 130) or a symptom checklist (n = 165). The Multi-Trait Multi-Method Matrix was used to assess construct validity, and Receiver Operating Curve analysis was used to assess the sensitivity and specificity of the SCARED, CBCL, and STAIC. The SCARED correlated significantly better with the CBCL's internalizing factors than with the externalizing factors. In addition, parent and child forms of the SCARED correlated significantly with the trait and state subscales of the STAIC. Children with an anxiety disorder scored significantly higher on the SCARED than children with depression only or disruptive disorders only (P < 0.05), thus demonstrating the discriminant validity of the SCARED. The SCARED is a reliable and valid screening tool for clinically referred children and adolescents with anxiety disorders.     

Depression in borderline patients: a prospective EEG sleep study

The relationship between borderline personality disorder and primary major depression was studied prospectively using Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Lifetime Version (SADS-L) interviews and electroencephalographic (EEG) sleep studies. Ten consecutively admitted borderline patients (a prospective sample), defined by Gunderson's Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines (DIB), underwent EEG sleep studies on two consecutive nights and were compared to previously reported samples of nonborderline depressed patients (defined by Research Diagnostic Criteria; RDC), normal controls, and DIB-defined borderline patients who had been referred "to rule out major depression" (a retrospective sample). EEG sleep data were analyzed visually and by automated techniques. Rapid eye movement (REM) latency values were similar in depressed and both borderline groups but significantly different from controls. Eighty-five percent of REM latency values in RDC major depressives were less than or equal to 65 minutes, compared to similar rates of 75% in the prospective sample of borderline patients and 65% in the retrospective sample, versus 35% for controls (chi 2 = 10.7, p less than 0.005). The REM latency in borderline patients did not vary with the severity of depression as measured by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. In the prospective borderline sample, the major SADS-L diagnoses were chronic intermittent depression (five), current major depression (four) (two unipolar, two bipolar II), and labile personality (one). A convergence of nosologic and EEG sleep data is suggested, and supports the concept of a close relationship between criteria-defined borderline personality disorder and affective illness.     

未治疗的未破裂颅内动脉瘤患者的精神心理调查分析

目的 调查并评价未经治疗的未破裂颅内动脉瘤(UIA)患者的精神心理问题.方法 选择上海同济大学附属同济医院神经外科自2008年1月至2011年1月就诊的70例未经治疗的UIA患者和48例健康体检者(对照组)进行调查问卷,应用症状自评量表(SCL-90)、抑郁自评量表(SDS)及焦虑自评量表(SAS)评价未经治疗的UIA患者的精神心理状况.结果 与对照组比较,未经治疗的UIA患者组SCL-90中躯体化、抑郁、焦虑、恐怖四项因子分及总分均较高,未经治疗的UIA组患者更易抑郁、焦虑,差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05)；内向性格抑郁发生率高于外向和中性性格,外向性格患者焦虑发生率低于中性及内向性格,大学文化程度患者抑郁、焦虑发生率低于高中及初中文化程度患者,差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05)；多因素Logistic回归分析显示性格、文化程度是影响未经治疗UIA患者抑郁、焦虑的独立危险因素.结论 未治疗的颅内动脉瘤患者容易出现抑郁或焦虑,文化程度低、内向型的患者表现更明显.     

The Inventory for Depressive Symptomatology (IDS): preliminary findings

The Inventory for Depressive Symptomatology (IDS) is a new measure of depressive signs and symptoms. Both self-report and clinician-rated versions are under development. The IDS-SR (self-report) was completed by 289 patients, 285 of whom were outpatients. Unipolar major depression (n = 174), bipolar disorder (n = 44), euthymic (S/P unipolar or bipolar) depression (n = 33), and other psychiatric disorders (n = 38) were included. The IDS-SR had good internal reliability (coefficient alpha = 0.85), and significantly correlated with both the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) (r = 0.67) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) (r = 0.78). The clinician-rated IDS (IDS-C) was administered to 82 outpatients (75 with unipolar or bipolar disorder, 5 with other psychiatric disorders, and 2 euthymic (S/P unipolar) depressions). Coefficient alpha (0.88) suggested strong internal consistency. The IDS-C correlated highly with both the HRSD (r = 0.92) and the BDI (r = 0.61). Discriminant and factor analyses provided evidence for construct validity for both the IDS-C and IDS-SR. Both scales significantly differentiated endogenous from nonendogenous depression defined by Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC). Factor structures for the IDS-SR revealed four factors: mood/cognition, anxiety, selected endogenous symptoms, and hyperphagia-hypersomnia. The IDS appears applicable to both inpatients and outpatients with endogenous, atypical, and nonendogenous major depression, and may have utility with dysthymics.     

Mood-independent aberrancies in associative processes in bipolar affective disorder: an apparent stabilizing effect of lithium

Forty-eight patients from an affective disorders clinic were tested twice with a word association test. They gave significantly fewer repetitions of common responses than did 29 normal controls. This difference was not related to subgroup diagnosis (bipolar I, bipolar II, unipolar, schizoaffective, and cyclothymic personality), to mood state at the time of testing, or to cycling frequency. The total number of repeated responses was directly correlated with serum lithium level (r = 0.44, p less than 0.01, especially in those judged good lithium responders (r = 0.71, p less than 0.05). This finding may reflect a normalizing effect of lithium on associative processes in affective illness.     

Affective instability and impulsivity in borderline personality and bipolar II disorders: similarities and differences

Objectives: many studies have reported a high degree of comorbidity between mood disorders, among which are bipolar disorders, and borderline personality disorder and some studies have suggested that these disorders are co-transmitted in families. However, few studies have compared personality traits between these disorders to determine whether there is a dimensional overlap between the two diagnoses. The aim of this study was to compare impulsivity, affective lability and intensity in patients with borderline personality and bipolar II disorder and in subjects with neither of these diagnoses. Methods: patients with borderline personality but without bipolar disorder (n=29), patients with bipolar II disorder without borderline personality but with other personality disorders (n=14), patients with both borderline personality and bipolar II disorder (n=12), and patients with neither borderline personality nor bipolar disorder but other personality disorders (OPD; n=93) were assessed using the Affective Lability Scale (ALS), the Affect Intensity Measure (AIM), the Buss–Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI) and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-7B). Results: borderline personality patients had significantly higher ALS total scores (P<0.05) and bipolar II patients tended to have higher ALS scores than patients with OPD (P<0.06). On one of the ALS subscales, the borderline patients displayed significant higher affective lability between euthymia and anger (P<0.002), whereas patients with bipolar II disorder displayed affective lability between euthymia and depression (P<0.04), or elation (P<0.01) or between depression and elation (P<0.01). A significant interaction between borderline personality and bipolar II disorder was observed for lability between anxiety and depression (P<0.01) with the ALS. High scores for impulsiveness (BISTOT, P<0.001) and hostility (BDHI, P<0.05) were obtained for borderline personality patients only and no significant interactions between diagnoses were observed. Only borderline personality patients tended to have higher affective intensity (AIM, P<0.07). Conclusions: borderline personality disorder and bipolar II disorder appear to involve affective lability, which may account for the efficacy of mood stabilizers treatments in both disorders. However, our results suggest that borderline personality disorder cannot be viewed as an attenuated group of affective disorders.