Cluster A odd or eccentric personality disorder (PD) symptoms may
reflect a schizophrenia spectrum biological vulnerability in at least some
persons. Consequently, this symptom pattern may have particularly negative
effects on the transition from adolescent to adult roles. A general
population sample of 200 young adults was assessed on Cluster A PD at mean
ages 17 and 22, and subsequently provided detailed narratives about their
monthly experiences and behaviors between these two ages. Adolescent
Cluster A PD was related to the developmental trajectories of residential,
career, financial, romantic, and family formation roles during this
period, and trajectories were related to a change in symptoms over this
period. Symptoms were associated with early parenthood and less advanced
education, but for other developmental outcomes tended to differ for men
and women. These gender differences were attributable, in part, to the
differential meaning and consequences of early parenthood for men and
women.This work was funded by NIMH Grant
MH-54161 to Patricia Cohen, and by the New York State Office of Mental
Health.