Comparing External Correlates ofDSM-5Section II and Section III Dimensional Trait Operationalizations of Borderline Personality Disorder

Abstract

The current study evaluated the relative associations of the DSM-5 Section II operationalization of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and dimensional traits included in a diagnosis of BPD in DSM-5 Section III with conceptually relevant external criterion variables. It is important to determine whether or not Section II BPD and constellation of Section III BPD traits have similar positions in the nomological network representing the BPD construct. Moreover, it is important to determine whether or not the trait-based Section III BPD diagnosis is an improvement upon the categorical Section II diagnosis in regard to its associations with external criteria. To evaluate this, we used two samples, a patient sample consisting of 145 psychiatric patients and a university sample consisting of 399 undergraduate students. We conducted a series of correlation and regression analyses in order to determine the relative associations of these two diagnostic methodologies with relevant external criteria. Correlation analyses did not favor either model, but indicated that both Section II and Section III BPD have associations with external criterion variables relevant to BPD. The regression analyses tended to favor the trait-based Section III model, supporting the construct validity and use of the trait profile for BPD in DSM-5 Section III. Generally, it was concluded that the Section II and Section III operationalizations have similar positions in a nomological network representing the BPD construct.Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a serious personality dysfunction characterized by symptoms such as affective instability, difficulties in interpersonal relationships, impulsivity, fear of abandonment, identity confusion, and risk for suicidal behaviors (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). Prevalence rates for this disorder are high and estimated to be between 2-6% in the general population, 10% in outpatient mental health settings, and

Elucidating the relationship between borderline personality disorder and intimate partner violence

“…Finally, there is evidence that the AMPD BPD trait profile accounts for some of the same external correlates (i.e. non-PD symptoms, behaviours, and life history variables) as traditional Section II BPD (Anderson, Sellbom, Sansone, & Songer, 2016;Miller, Few, Lynam, & Mackillop, 2015). No study, however, has examined the relation between the AMPD BPD trait profile and IPV perpetration, and this is the first main aim of the current study.…”

“…As such, it was expected that both traditional and AMPD operationalisations of BPD would be associated with IPV perpetration in this study. Further, considering previous research showing that traditional and AMPD operationalisations of BPD are conceptually overlapping constructs (Sellbom, Sansone, et al, 2014), and have similar associations with other BPD relevant antisocial behaviours (Anderson et al, 2016), it was predicted that AMPD BPD scores would be equally as associated with IPV perpetration criteria as traditional BPD scores.…”

A Brief but Comprehensive Review of Research on the Alternative DSM-5 Model for Personality Disorders

“…Several studies have been conducted demonstrating the incremental validity of maladaptive traits above and beyond DSM-5 section II PDs when predicting treatment planning [278], general PD severity [279], disability [235], social cognition deficits [280], and aggression [244]. Some research focused on the incremental validity of selected trait facets above and beyond specific PDs when predicting external criterion variables [236,281,282]. Moreover, two studies indicated that maladaptive traits may have incremental validity for predicting psychosocial impairment [283] or disability and symptoms [284] when controlling for general personality traits and section II PDs.…”

Continuity between DSM-5 Categorical Criteria and Traits Criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder

“…[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] Studies particularly focusing on BPD have found a large overlap between latent representations of the Section II and Section III BPD models 21 and that the BPD Section III trait profile accounts for the same range of internalizing and externalizing behaviours associated with traditional Section II BPD operationalization. 22 Additionally, it has been clarified that Cognitive and perceptual dysregulation 21 and Suspiciousness 20 augment this prediction by mapping onto the stress-induced symptoms of dissociation and paranoia, respectively, which comprise important elements of BPD. 23 These findings indicate that more parsimonious constellations of traits may better represent BPD.…”