Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Microscopic Cyst Resection for the Treatment of Patients Diagnosed with Epididymal Cyst
Published on: March 31, 2023
Personality diagnoses in adolescence: DSM-IV axis II diagnoses and an empirically derived alternative
Drew Westen1, Jonathan Shedler, Christine Durrett
1Department of Psychology, Emory University School of Medicine, 532 North Kligo Circle, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. dwesten@emory.edu
Objective:
The study of personality pathology in adolescence is in its infancy. This article examined the applicability and limits of DSM-IV axis II personality disorder diagnoses in adolescents, assessed the validity of a method for assessing adolescent personality pathology, and began to develop an empirically grounded classification.
Method:
A total of 296 randomly selected clinicians described a patient age 14-18 in treatment for maladaptive personality patterns using axis II ratings scales and the Shedler-Westen Assessment Procedure-200 for Adolescents (SWAP-200-A), a Q-sort instrument for assessing adolescent personality pathology. After examining the nature and frequency of axis II disorders in the sample, the authors used Q-factor analysis to identify naturally occurring groupings of patients on the basis of shared personality features.
Results:
Axis II diagnoses in adolescents resembled those in adults, although application of DSM-IV criteria appeared to overdiagnose antisocial and avoidant personality disorder in adolescents. Q analysis with the SWAP-200-A isolated five personality disorders (antisocial-psychopathic, emotionally dysregulated, avoidant-constricted, narcissistic, and histrionic) and one personality style. Patients' dimensional scores on each diagnostic prototype showed predictable associations with ratings of current axis II disorders, measures of adaptive functioning, and symptoms assessed with the Child Behavior Checklist.
Conclusions:
With some exceptions, personality pathology in adolescence resembles that in adults and is diagnosable in adolescents ages 14-18. Categories and criteria developed for adults may not be the optimal way of diagnosing adolescents. Data from samples of adolescents may prove useful in developing an empirically and clinically grounded classification of personality pathology in adolescents.
More Related Videos
06:15Protocol and Guidelines for Point-of-Care Lung Ultrasound in Diagnosing Neonatal Pulmonary Diseases Based on International Expert Consensus
Published on: March 6, 2019
05:52Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis
Published on: November 21, 2013
Related Concept Videos
Diagnosing Acidosis and Alkalosis
First, the pH level is assessed to determine whether the blood pH is normal (7.35–7.45), low (acidosis), or high (alkalosis).
Next, the PCO2 and...
Empirical Method to Interpret Standard Deviation
This rule is used widely in statistics to calculate the proportion of data values...
Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis
Cognitive Development During Adolescence
Alternative RNA Splicing
There are five types of alternative RNA splicing that vary in the ways the pre-mRNA segments are removed or retained in the mature mRNA. The first...
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)