Diagnostic stability, defined as percent of study participants retaining their personality disorder diagnosis at the follow-up evaluation, ranged from 25% to 78%, with a mean of 56%. A review of research on personality disorder diagnostic stability (3) found 11 studies (10 on borderline personality disorder), with follow-up periods ranging from weeks to 15 years. The majority of existing studies addressing this question have used DSM categorical diagnoses to define personality disorders, examining diagnostic or functional outcome over varying periods of time. There are few data to support these assumptions, however (1– 3). According to DSM-IV, personality disorders are apparent by late adolescence or early adulthood and are characterized by a persisting pattern of maladaptive traits throughout adulthood. Key to the definition of a personality disorder is the assumption of stability over time. Personality disorders may be characterized by stable trait constellations that fluctuate in degree of maladaptive expression.

CONCLUSIONS: Individual differences in personality disorder features appear to be highly stable, although the number of criteria present decreases over time. The majority of personality disorder subjects, however, did not consistently remain at diagnostic threshold, and the mean number of criteria met decreased significantly for each group. A continuous measure of number of criteria met was highly correlated across the three assessments. RESULTS: Significantly more subjects in each personality disorder group remained at diagnostic threshold throughout the 12 months of the follow-up period than did those in the major depressive disorder group. The current report is based on 621 subjects with complete data through 12 months of the follow-up period. Follow-up assessments, conducted 6 and 12 months after the baseline assessment, included monthly ratings of all criteria for the four personality disorders and weekly ratings of the course of major depressive disorder.

Diagnoses were established by using semistructured interviews. Subjects met criteria for one or more of the four personality disorders or were part of a comparison group of subjects with major depressive disorder and no personality disorder. METHOD: Subjects (N=668) were recruited from multiple clinical settings at four collaborating institutions. This study prospectively examined the stability of four personality disorders (schizotypal, borderline, avoidant, and obsessive-compulsive) over a 1-year follow-up period. OBJECTIVE: Personality disorders are defined as enduring patterns of maladaptive behaviors and traits that are stable over time.

What is scid in personality psychology