The longitudinal relationship of personality traits and disorders.
Personality disorders are presumed to be stable because of underlying stable and maladaptive personality traits, but while previous research has demonstrated a link between personality traits and personality disorders cross-sectionally, personality disorders and personality traits have not been linked longitudinally. This study explores the extent to which relevant personality traits are stable in individuals diagnosed with 4 personality disorders (schizotypal, borderline, avoidant, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders) and examines the assumption that these personality disorders are stable by virtue of stable personality traits. This assumption was tested via the estimation of a series of latent longitudinal models that evaluated whether changes in relevant personality traits lead to subsequent changes in personality disorders. In addition to offering large consistency estimates for personality traits and personality disorders, the results demonstrate significant cross-lagged relationships between trait change and later disorder change for 3 of the 4 personality disorders studied.
Warner
Megan B
MB
Texas A & M University, College Station, TX 77483, USA.
Morey
Leslie C
LC
Finch
John F
JF
Gunderson
John G
JG
Skodol
Andrew E
AE
Sanislow
Charles A
CA
Shea
M Tracie
MT
McGlashan
Thomas H
TH
Grilo
Carlos M
CM
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index