Differences in personality functioning impairment in mood, anxiety, and personality disorders: a cluster analysis

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Mental Health Assessment

Background:

• The Alternative DSM-5 Model and ICD-11 incorporate the Level of Personality Functioning Scale (LPFS) as central to personality pathology.
• Existing research suggests personality functioning impairment extends to other mental health conditions, necessitating further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize profiles of personality functioning levels in individuals with personality disorders, other psychiatric diagnoses, and healthy controls.
• To explore the clinical utility of the LPFS in assessing a broader range of mental health conditions.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 149 participants was recruited, comprising healthy controls (n=53), individuals with personality disorders (n=58), and individuals with mood and anxiety disorders (n=38).
• Personality functioning was assessed using the Semi-structured Interview for Personality Functioning DSM-5 (STiP-5.1).
• Agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis was employed to identify distinct profiles of personality functioning.

Main Results:

• Both patient groups exhibited significantly greater impairment in personality functioning compared to healthy controls.
• Individuals with personality disorders demonstrated the highest levels of impairment.
• Cluster analysis identified three distinct profiles representing varying levels of personality functioning.

Conclusions:

• Impairment in personality functioning is a valuable clinical assessment tool for conditions beyond personality disorders.
• The LPFS serves as a comprehensive indicator of overall mental health severity and the presence of psychiatric symptoms.
• LPFS data offers detailed insights into individual mental health, supporting case formulation, treatment planning, and prognosis.