The remaining road to classifying personality pathology in the DSM-5: what behavior genetics can add

Replies to comments by C. Hopwood (see record 2013-27219-003), W. Iacono (see record 2013-27219-001) and A. Skodol and R. Krueger (see record 2013-27219-002) on the article by S. C. South and N. J. DeYoung (see record 2012-01744-001). This commentary examines how behavior genetic research can be used to inform the revision of personality disorders (PDs) during the transition from DSM-IV to DSM-5. South and DeYoung address three "meta-themes" that emerged across these responses. First, personality disorders are disorders, and should be defined and diagnosed as such. Second, the DSM is fundamentally a manual for assessment and diagnosis, and thus needs to be usable for those purposes. Third, what can behavior genetics do as we move toward the DSM-5? In summary, there is much work to be done over the coming months to finalize the practical details of the DMS-5 proposal.