Longitudinal Changes in Maladaptive Personality Domains and Clinical Outcomes: A Study Protocol

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Maladaptive personality traits are transdiagnostic risk factors linked to functional impairment and poor mental health outcomes.
• These traits, including Negative Affectivity and Detachment, affect emotional regulation and relationships.
• Limited longitudinal research exists on within-person changes in these traits during psychotherapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the dynamic interplay between maladaptive personality domains and treatment outcomes in patients undergoing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
• To examine reciprocal relationships between personality traits and clinical outcomes over one year.
• To assess mean-level changes in personality traits and identify which traits change most significantly during therapy.

Main Methods:

• A preregistered longitudinal study with 200 participants from an Italian outpatient service.
• Data collected at five time points over 12 months using validated self-report measures for personality and clinical symptoms.
• Analysis employed Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Models and Latent Growth Curve Models.

Main Results:

• This section is to be filled once the study results are available.
• The study is designed to identify temporal dynamics and associations between personality trait changes and therapeutic progress.
• Exploratory analysis will examine if the greatest change occurs in the most elevated trait domain at baseline.

Conclusions:

• The study will offer novel insights into the temporal dynamics of maladaptive personality traits during CBT.
• Findings may inform personalized interventions by identifying traits that change significantly and predict symptom improvement.
• Results could guide clinical decision-making regarding personality factors influencing treatment trajectories.