Ego development and DSM-III Axis II: personality disorders

Investigated the relationship between Loevinger 's levels of ego development and DSM-III Axis II personality disorder diagnoses, with a private psychiatric clinic sample of 400 patients. A breakdown of the ego development levels for each personality disorder is provided. Personality disorders that cluster in the dramatic, emotional and erratic cluster of the DSM-III ( histrionic , narcissistic, antisocial and borderline personality disorders) were found to have the majority of individuals who scored below the conformity level in the sample, with almost half of the individuals in this personality cluster below the conformity level. Another finding was that the psychiatric patient sample was devoid of individuals at the highest levels of ego functioning. Also, individuals who had their personality diagnoses deferred, predominantly due to psychotic mental disorders, typically were at or above the conformity level.