title: Assessment of DSM-III personality structure in a general-population survey.
abstract: The object of this study is to assess the internal validity of DSM-III personality constructs and to explore whether the constituent elements are better explained by an alternate internally coherent classification. A two-stage stratified random sample of subjects identified at the Baltimore site of the Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) program were examined by psychiatrists for DSM-III personality attributes using a semistructured instrument. Dichotomous factor analysis was used in the confirmatory mode to test whether a single factor explained each of the 11 DSM-III personality disorders. This approach rejected a single explanatory factor for all but compulsive personality disorder. Exploratory factor analysis showed that these DSM-III personality features are parsimoniously described by a five-factor model. These factors are warmth, animation, timidity, trust, and scrupulousness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nestadt
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Eaton
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Romanoski
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garrison
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Folstein
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: McHugh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015142:Baltimore / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008432:Mathematical Computing; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010553:Personality Development; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012984:Software