[Cortico-orbital frontal functions and psychophysiological features of DSM-IV personality disorders]

The purpose of the study was to analyze the construct validity of DSM-IV categories and clusters for personality disorders, using computerized neuropsychological measures exploring frontal executive functions, such as vigilance or sustained attention, mental flexibility, planning and concept formation (Stroop, CPT, WCST); and psychophysiological records of heart rate and skin electric response to experimental stress, and recovery slope in both measures. The sample consisted of 138 participants (66 males and 72 females), with ages between 17 and 65 years, which received a diagnosis of any personality disorder, according to DSM-IV criteria. The results exclusively confirm, to some extent, the construct validity of cluster A, mainly based on neuropsychological deficits, but differences between categories were much more diffuse.