Using the five-factor model to represent the DSM-IV personality disorders:An expert consensus approach

This study sought to extend previous work on the five-factor dimensional mo del (FFM) of personality disorder (PD) by developing more comprehensive FFM descriptions of prototypic cases. Specifically, the authors asked experts in each of the 10 DSM-IV PDs to rate the prototypic case by using all 30 fa cets of the FFM. Aggregating across raters of the given disorder generated a prototype for each disorder. In general, there was good agreement among e xperts and with previous theoretical and empirical FFM translations of DSM diagnostic criteria. Furthermore, the ability of the FFM explanation to rep roduce the high comorbidity rates among PDs was demonstrated. The authors c oncluded that, with the possible exception of schizotypal PD, the DSM PDs c an be understood from the dimensional perspective of the FFM. Future direct ions for research, including the use of the present prototypes to "diagnose " personality disorder, are discussed.