Ten-year stability of personality disorders among outpatients with mood disorders

One of the core propositions in most clinical and descriptive models of personality disorders (PDs) is that these conditions are stable over time. However, the available empirical literature suggests that PDs are far less stable than these models imply. The present study examines the 10-year stability of PDs in a sample of depressed outpatients who were assessed for the full range of Axis II conditions across 5 assessments. Three primary issues are addressed: (a) the stability of categorical PD diagnoses, (b) the relative stability of dimensional PD traits, and (c) the absolute stability of PD traits. The stability of PD diagnoses was poor to fair, and the stability of dimensional PD traits was fair to moderate. Growth curve analyses revealed complex patterns of change in absolute scores for PD traits across the 10-year interval. Stability of PDs was generally comparable to that of anxiety disorder diagnoses and normal personality traits.