Impulsivity, aggressiveness, and DSM-IV personality disorders.
The aim of this study is to assess whether impulsive and aggressive traits can be placed on a continuum with DSM-IV Cluster B Personality Disorders (PDs) and to determine if different aspects of these personality traits are specifically associated with individual Cluster B PDs. The study group comprised 461 outpatients admitted consecutively to a clinic that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of PDs. Principal component analyses clearly suggested a five-factor structure of both normal and psychopathological personality traits. Importantly, measures of impulsivity, aggressiveness and novelty seeking formed a part of the principal component that clustered all Cluster B PDs. Regression analyses indicated that impulsive traits were selectively associated with Borderline PD whereas different aspects of aggressiveness were useful in discriminating Narcissistic PD from Antisocial PD. Sensation seeking traits formed a part of Histrionic PD. These results indicate that impulsive/aggressive traits may be useful in explaining both why Cluster B PDs tend to covary, and why they frequently differ in clinical pictures and courses.
Fossati
Andrea
A
Faculty of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy. fossati.andrea@hsr.it
Barratt
Ernest S
ES
Borroni
Serena
S
Villa
Daniele
D
Grazioli
Federica
F
Maffei
Cesare
C
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D002605:Character; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013694:Temperament