title: The construct validity of passive-aggressive personality disorder.
abstract: Although Passive Aggressive personality disorder (PAPD) plays an important role in many theories of personality pathology, it was consigned to the appendix of the fourth edition of the DSM. The scientific basis of this decision has been questioned, but several controversies persist regarding PAPD, including its structure, content validity, overlap with other PDs, and relations to validating variables such as personality traits, childhood experiences, and clinically relevant correlates. This study examined these facets of PAPD's construct validity in a large clinical sample. Results suggest that the construct is unidimensional, internally consistent, and reasonably stable. Furthermore, PAPD appears systematically related to borderline and narcissistic personality disorders, sets of personality traits, and childhood experiences consistent with several theoretical formulations, dysfunction, substance abuse disorders, and history of hospitalizations. Overall, results support the construct validity of PAPD.
authors.affiliation: Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1116, USA. hopwood2@msu.edu
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hopwood
authors.forename: Leslie C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Morey
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Markowitz
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Andrew E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Skodol
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Gunderson
authors.forename: Mary C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Zanarini
authors.forename: M Tracie
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Shea
authors.forename: Shirley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: Thomas H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: McGlashan
authors.forename: Emily B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Ansell
authors.forename: Carlos M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Grilo
authors.forename: Charles A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Sanislow
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010324:Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors