title: Longitudinal course and outcome of personality disorders.
abstract: The notion of personality disorders (PDs) as stable disorders has persisted despite traditional follow-up studies showing that fewer than 50% of patients diagnosed with PDs retained these diagnoses over time. Because these studies had methodological limitations, four more rigorous large-scale studies of the naturalistic course of PDs have been conducted. The results indicate (1) personality psychopathology improves over time at unexpectedly significant rates; (2) maladaptive personality traits are more stable than PD diagnoses; (3) although personality psychopathology improves, residual effects can be seen in the form of persistent functional impairment, continuing behavioral problems, reduced future quality of life, and ongoing Axis I psychopathology; (4) improvement in personality psychopathology may eventually be associated with reduction in ongoing personal and social burden.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Mental Health Research, 3300 N. Central Avenue, Suite 2380, Phoenix, AZ 85012, USA. askodol@imhr.org
authors.forename: Andrew E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Skodol
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003415:Crime / Q000523:psychology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010553:Personality Development; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012951:Socialization; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology