PERSONALITY AND DISINHIBITORY PSYCHOPATHOLOGY - ALCOHOLISM AND ANTISOCIAL PERSONALITY-DISORDER

We discuss the relation between personality factors and two adult form s of disinhibitory psychopathology-alcohol abuse or dependence and ant isocial personality disorder. First, we briefly review various methodo logical issues relevant to research in this area. Next, we review empi rical findings relating three broad-band personality trait dimensions (neuroticism/emotionality, impulsivity/disinhibition. extraversion/soc iability) to both alcohol abuse and dependence and antisocial personal ity disorder. Finally, theoretical models of the relationship between personality and each of these two disorders are presented. We conclude that although no single personality description is likely to be both a sensitive and specific indicator of either alcoholism or antisocial personality disorder, person-personality variables are important compo nents of etiological models of these disorders.