Abstract
To examine the effects of state on personality disorder characteristics, we compared individuals with social phobia before and after psychological intervention. Administration of the Personality Disorder Questionnaire (PDQ-4) before and after treatment allowed for the identification of three groups of patients: (1) individuals who showed elevated PDQ-4 scores but little changes from intake to post treatment (Trait PD group; n=28); (2) individuals who showed a decrease in PDQ-4 scores from intake to post treatment (State group; n=33); and (3) a group with no significant personality disorder characteristics at pre or post-treatment (No PD group; n=32). There were trend differences between the Trait, State and No PD groups for being single, never married (81.5%, 44.4%, and 56.3%, p<.05) and a significant difference for having the generalized form of Social Phobia (96.4%, 88.9%, and 59.4%, p<.0001). The groups also differed in their level of trait anxiety (61.6, 51.2, 44.5, p<.001). Groups also differed in level of the personality measure Harm Avoidance (26.3, 23.3, 19.8, p<.0002). The reduction of personality disorder traits in the State PD groups from intake to post-treatment was not specific to any particular personality disorder or personality disorder cluster. Trait personality appeared to have a higher risk for suicide compared to the other two groups. A State Personality group was identified in individuals with social phobia by following changes in personality pathology from before and after a psychological intervention.