PERSONALITY-DISORDERS IN DSM-III-R AS CATEGORICAL OR DIMENSIONAL

Despite the atheoretical approach of the DSM-III-R, the personality di sorders have their roots in specific theoretical schools. Due to clini cal tradition, analogies with Axis I and the tradition in psychiatry a nd medicine, the personality disorders are presented as categories alt hough there is more empirical support for a dimensional approach. This study attempted to determine whether the separate personality disorde rs meet Kendell's criteria for distinct entities, i.e., bimodality wit h distinct points of rarity. None of the personality disorders met the criteria for a distinct disease entity. Instead, all of the personali ty disorders presented as continuous, dimensional personality traits p resent among healthy subjects and more pronounced in patients with men tal disorders.