Personality disorders as maladaptive variants of common personality traits: Implications for treatment

Personality disorders are inadequately described by the diagnostic categories of the American Psychiatric Association's (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (APA, 1994). This inadequacy is discussed with respect to the heterogeneity among persons with the same diagnosis, the substantial co-occurrence of personality disorder diagnoses, the arbitrary distinction from normal personality functioning; and the inadequate coverage. Optimal treatment decisions should be informed by a more precise description of each individual's unique constellation of adaptive and maladaptive personality traits. The dimensional five-factor model of personality is offered as an alternative. Empirical support and illustrative case examples are provided.