title: [Conceptual difficulties in personality disorders.].
abstract: This article examines the debate surrounding the concepts of personality disorders through a review of the Medline literature on personality disorders definitions, psychometric studies, etiologies, categorical versus dimensional as well as trait-state issues and stability of diagnosis. It is suggested that clinicians will gain better diagnosis accuracy and more refined treatment planning if they understand the conceptual difficulties belonging to personality disorders. Beyond the knowledge of DSM diagnostic criteria, they should familiarise themselves with notions of traits, dimensions and temperament as these paradigms help to follow current developments in personality etiology research.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Renaud
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cloutier