Alternative DSM-5 Model for Personality Disorders

Personality is a person’s characteristic manner of thinking, feeling, behaving, and relating to others. The American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), includes a section devoted to the diagnosis of personality disorders. When personality traits result in a significant impairment to social or occupational activity (or in personal distress), a personality disorder is considered to be present. The fourth edition of the APA diagnostic manual (DSM-IV) included 10 different types of personality disorder: (1) antisocial, (2) avoidant, (3) borderline, (4) dependent, (5) histrionic, (6) narcissistic, (7) obsessive-compulsive, (8) paranoid, (9) schizoid, and (10) schizotypal.

There is considerable empirical support for the existence, validity, and importance of identifying the presence of maladaptive personality traits (e.g., research concerning causes, family ...

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