Understanding how personality issues develop in young people
Official title: Testing Developmental Mechanisms of Personality Impairment in Youth
Funded at Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr · NIH-11031992 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how we can spot early signs of personality disorders in teenagers so we can help them before things get worse, by understanding how they see themselves and connect with others.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hershey, United States) |
| Project start | February 9, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $694,417 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH132620-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11031992 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents and young adults under 21 who may be experiencing early signs of personality dysfunction or related mental health issues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are over 21 years old or do not exhibit any signs of personality impairment may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the early signs of personality disorders in adolescents, focusing on how these issues can be identified and measured before they become severe. It uses a dimensional approach to assess personality functioning, which looks at how well individuals understand themselves and relate to others. By examining neurophysiological mechanisms, the study aims to uncover the underlying factors that contribute to personality impairment, potentially allowing for earlier intervention and support for at-risk youth.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to earlier identification and intervention for personality disorders in adolescents, improving long-term mental health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: While research on personality disorders has been extensive in adults, this approach focusing on early adolescence is relatively novel and has not been widely tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr
Hershey, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Babinski, Dara E — Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Babinski, Dara E
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.