title: The joint structure of normal and pathological personality: further evidence for a dimensional model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The literature proposes a joint structure of normal and pathological personality with higher-order factors mainly based on the five-factor model of personality (FFM). The purpose of the present study was to examine the joint structure of the FFM and the DSM-IV personality disorders (PDs) and to discuss this structure with regard to higher-order domains commonly reported in the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  We applied a canonical correlation analysis, a series of principal component analyses with oblique Promax rotation and a bi-factor analysis with Geomin rotation on 511 subjects of the general population of Zurich, Switzerland, using data from the ZInEP Epidemiology Survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 5 FFM traits and the 10 DSM-IV PD dimensions shared 77% of total variance. Component extraction tests pointed towards a two- and three-component solution. The two-component solution comprised a first component with strong positive loadings on neuroticism and all 10 PD dimensions and a second component with strong negative loadings on extraversion and openness and positive loadings on schizoid and avoidant PDs. The three-component solution added a third component with strong positive loadings on conscientiousness and agreeableness and a negative loading on antisocial PD. The bi-factor model provided evidence for 1 general personality dysfunction factor related to neuroticism and 5 group factors, although the interpretability of the latter was limited.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Normal and pathological personality domains are not isomorphic or superposable, although they share a substantial proportion of variance. The two and three higher-order domains extracted in the present study correspond well to equivalent factor-solutions reported in the literature. Moreover, these superordinate factors can consistently be integrated within a hierarchical structure of alternative four- and five-factor models. The top of the hierarchy presumably constitutes a general personality dysfunction factor which is closely related to neuroticism.
authors: University of Zurich, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics. Electronic address: michael.hengartner@dgsp.uzh.ch.
authors: Michael P
authors: MP
authors: Hengartner
authors: University of Zurich, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics.
authors: Vladeta
authors: V
authors: Ajdacic-Gross
authors: University of Zurich, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics.
authors: Stephanie
authors: S
authors: Rodgers
authors: University of Zurich, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics.
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Müller
authors: University of Zurich, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics; Collegium Helveticum, a Joint Research Institute between the University of Zurich and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Wulf
authors: W
authors: Rössler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010551:Personality; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011594:Psychometrics; D013557:Switzerland; D055815:Young Adult