The dimensional view of personality disorders: a review of the taxometric evidence

A review of 21 taxometric studies of PDs and related variables calls an unqualified version of this view into question, and analyses of the three PDs investigated to date strongly support taxonic (i.e., categorical or discontinuous) models.

Abstract

The dimensional view of personality disorders (PDs) represents these conditions as extreme variants of normal personality continua. This widely held view underpins efforts to characterize PDs in terms of established systems of personality description and to overhaul classification of PDs along dimensional lines. A review of 21 taxometric studies of PDs and related variables calls an unqualified version of this view into question. Analyses of the three PDs investigated to date strongly support taxonic (i.e., categorical or discontinuous) models. Implications for the conceptualization and classification of PDs are drawn.