[Personality disorder traits in childhood and adolescence: concepts, methodological approaches and empirical results].
OBJECTIVE
The practical and theoretical advantages of the diagnosis and classification of personality disorder traits in childhood and adolescence remain controversial topics, the investigation of which is particularly neglected in German-speaking countries.


METHODS
This review reports in detail research findings on the diagnostic validity and on the stability of personality disorder dimensions from childhood and adolescence to adulthood.


RESULTS
On the one hand, the latest research findings refer to the validity of diagnoses of personality disorder in adolescence, and on the other, to the stability of personality traits over the course of development. Evidence of the continuity of personality disorder traits from adolescence to adulthood, however, is still lacking. Dimensional approaches are considered superior with regard to the assessment of personality disorder traits, particularly since they reflect development aspects, and also due to their higher sensitivity in this respect.


CONCLUSIONS
Longitudinal studies during both childhood and adolescence are required in order to assess the continuity, or the instability, respectively, of dimensionally assessed personality profiles and the influence of infant personality factors on the development of psychopathology.
Krischer
Maya
M
Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie des Kindes- und Jugendalters der Universität zu Köln. Maya.Krischer@uk-koeln.de
Sevecke
Kathrin
K
Döpfner
Manfred
M
Lehmkuhl
Gerd
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D010553:Personality Development; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D011574:Psychoanalytic Theory; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors