The interpersonal core of personality pathology

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Psychopathology

Background:

• The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) has evolved in its conceptualization of personality pathology.
• The DSM-5 proposed a significant redefinition in Section 3, focusing on self and interpersonal dysfunction.
• Contemporary interpersonal theory offers a framework for understanding personality disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate that personality pathology is fundamentally an interpersonal phenomenon.
• To review and interpret the DSM-5 Section 3 redefinition of personality pathology through the lens of interpersonal theory.
• To highlight the benefits of grounding the DSM-5 proposal in interpersonal theory for theoretical, empirical, and clinical advancement.

Main Methods:

• Review of the proposed DSM-5 Section 3 definition of personality pathology.
• Comparison of the DSM-5 Section 3 proposal with contemporary interpersonal theory.
• Interpretation of the DSM-5 Section 3 definition using the principles of the interpersonal paradigm.
• Analysis of how focusing on the "interpersonal situation" strengthens the definition.
• Presentation of a clinical example to illustrate the application of interpersonal theory.

Main Results:

• The DSM-5 Section 3 redefinition represents a substantial improvement over previous definitions.
• Contemporary interpersonal theory aligns well with the proposed DSM-5 Section 3 framework.
• Grounding the definition in interpersonal theory enhances its theoretical depth, empirical support, and clinical usefulness.
• Interpersonal theory provides a valuable tool for augmenting the understanding and application of the proposed personality pathology definition.

Conclusions:

• Personality pathology is intrinsically interpersonal.
• Contemporary interpersonal theory offers a robust framework for understanding and refining the DSM-5 Section 3 proposal.
• Further research integrating interpersonal theory is recommended to support the proposed definition's advancement and potential integration into the main body of diagnostic manuals.