Personality traits as an organizing framework for personality pathology

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychiatry
• Personality Science

Background:

• Parallels exist between the structures of general psychopathology, personality pathology, and normal personality.
• Understanding these structures is crucial for accurate personality disorder assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the associations between the Alternative Model of Personality Disorder (AMPD) and the five-factor model of personality.
• To propose potential realignments of the AMPD for enhanced convergence with the five-factor model.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 to operationalize the AMPD.
• Analyzed data to assess the links between AMPD domains/facets and the five-factor model domains/facets.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated substantial associations between four of the five domains of both models.
• Proposed revised facet structures for AMPD domains (Negative Affectivity, Detachment, Antagonism, Disinhibition).
• Alternative scores showed improved convergent and discriminant validity compared to current AMPD measures.

Conclusions:

• The findings underscore the significant overlap between normal and pathological personality traits.
• Realigning the AMPD can improve its integration with the established five-factor model.
• Proposed revisions offer a potentially more valid framework for understanding personality pathology.