Mieke Decuyper

Five types of personality continuity in childhood and adolescence.

This study examines 5 types of personality continuity--structural, mean-level, individual-level, differential, and ipsative--in a representative population (N=498) and a twin and sibling sample (N=548) of children and adolescents. Parents described their children on 2 successive occasions with a 36-month interval using the Hierarchical Personality Inventory for Children (I. Mervielde & F. De Fruyt, 1999). There was evidence for structural continuity in the 2 samples, and personality was shown to be largely differentially stable. A large percentage had a stable trait profile indicative of ipsative stability, and mean-level personality changes were generally small in magnitude. Continuity findings were explained mainly by genetic and nonshared environmental factors.

A meta-analysis of psychopathy-, antisocial PD- and FFM associations

This research meta‐analytically summarizes the relationships of the Five‐Factor Model (FFM) with psychopathy and Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD). Effect sizes of the associations between psychopathy, APD and the FFM were compiled from 26 independent samples (N = 6913) for psychopathy and 57 independent samples (N = 16 424) for APD. The results revealed predominantly points of similarity and some differences in the FFM associations of both disorders. Symptoms of psychopathy and APD were negatively associated with Conscientiousness and Agreeableness facets and positively with scores on Angry–Hostility (N2), Impulsiveness (N5), Excitement Seeking (E5) and negatively with Warmth (E1). Only psychopathy had a small negative association with Anxiety (N1) and was characterized by stronger negative associations with Agreeableness and Straightforwardness (A2), Compliance (A4) and Modesty (A5) compared to APD. The moderator analyses showed that sample type, use of the NEO‐PI‐R and APD instrument moderated the APD FFM associations, while psychopathy instrument and age group were moderators in the psychopathy MA. Implications of this research for the assessment of APD and psychopathy relying on dimensional models of personality pathology are discussed. Copyright

Does Personality Disorder Co-Morbidity Impact Treatment Outcome for Patients with Major Depression?: A Multi-Level Analysis

In literature, there exists disagreement regarding the impact of comorbid personality disorder(s) (PD[s]) on treatment outcome for patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). The aim of this paper was to investigate whether statistical heterogeneity and inter-dependency are potential moderators of the effect of co-morbid PDs on outcome for patients with MDD. Clinician-rated MADRS scores and DSM-IV Axis II personality disorder diagnoses were obtained from 562 outpatients with MDD who received 6 months of combined psycho- and pharmacotherapy. Single-level regression showed significantly worse treatment outcome among patients with co-morbid PD, as compared to patients with no PD. After controlling for statistical heterogeneity and interdependency, treatment outcome was no longer significantly worse for patients with co-morbid PD. In conclusion, heteroscedasticity and inter-dependency should be considered as potentially compelling explanations for inconsistencies in findings on treatment outcome for depressed patients with co-morbid PDs.

Validation of FFM PD counts for screening personality pathology and psychopathy in adolescence.

Miller and colleagues (Miller, Bagby, Pilkonis, Reynolds, & Lynam, 2005) recently developed a Five-Factor Model (FFM) personality disorder (PD) count technique for describing and diagnosing PDs and psychopathy in adulthood. This technique conceptualizes PDs relying on general trait models and uses facets from the expert-generated PD prototypes to score the FFM PDs. The present study corroborates on the study of Miller and colleagues (2005) and investigates in Study 1 whether the PD count technique shows discriminant validity to describe PDs in adolescence. Study 2 extends this objective to psychopathy. Results suggest that the FFM PD count technique is equally successful in adolescence as in adulthood to describe PD symptoms, supporting the use of this descriptive method in adolescence. The normative data and accompanying PD count benchmarks enable to use FFM scores for PD screening purposes in adolescence.

A five-factor model perspective on psychopathy and comorbid Axis-II disorders in a forensic-psychiatric sample

The validity of DSM-IV predictions [Widiger, T. A., Trull, T. J., Clarkin, J. F., Sanderson, C. J., & Costa, P. T., (2002). A description of the DSM-IV personality disorders with the five-factor model of personality. In Costa, P. T. & Widiger, T. A. (Eds.), Personality disorders and the five-factor model of personality (2nd ed.). Washington DC: American Psychological Association] concerning Antisocial Personality Disorder and the validity of the hypothesized associations between the Five-Factor Model and psychopathy were examined in 48 male forensic-psychiatric patients. Prevalence of psychopathy and comorbid personality pathology was also investigated, as well as the convergent validity of two Dutch personality disorder inventories. Patients provided self-descriptions on the NEO-PI-R [Costa, P. T., & McCrae, R. R., (1992b). Professional Manual: Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R) and NEO Five-Factor-Inventory (NEO-FFI). Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources], and were administered the VKP [Duijsens, I. J., Haringsma, R., & EurelingsBontekoe, E. H. M., (1999). Handleiding VKP (Vragenlijst voor kenmerken van de persoonlijkheid). Gebaseerd op DSM-IV en ICD-10. Leiderdorp: Datec] and the ADP-IV [Schotte, C. K. W., & De Doncker, D. A. M., (1994). ADP-IV Questionnaire. Antwerp Belgium: University Hospital Antwerp] to assess personality pathology. Psychopathy was assessed using Hares Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R; [Hare, R. D., (1990). The Hare Psychopathy Checklist Revised Manual. Toronto: Multi-Health Systems]) based on a semi-structured interview and file records of psychiatric and psychological evaluations and criminal history. Results underscored the validity of the FFM Antisocial PD associations, but the hypothesized correlations between the FFM and Psychopathy were less supported. Results supported the convergent validity of the ADP-IV and the VKP, both at the dimensional and categorical level. Around 55% met the diagnostic threshold of psychopathy, and Antisocial PD was the most prevalent disorder in the psychopathic group, consistent with previous research. Sizeable personality comorbidity was also observed.

General and Maladaptive personality diMensions and the assessMent of Callous-uneMotional traits in adolesCenCe

Associations between callous-unemotional traits and general and maladaptive personality dimensions are examined in adolescence. More specifically, it was investigated to what extent general and maladaptive personality dimensions can account for the variance in callous-unemotional (CU) scores. Adolescents (N = 509) and their mothers completed the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits (ICU; Frick, 2003), the Hierarchical Personality Inventory for Children (HiPIC; Mervielde & De Fruyt, 1999, 2002), and the Dimensional Personality Symptom Item Pool (DIPSI; De Clercq, De Fruyt, Van Leeuwen, & Mervielde, 2006). Both personality measures accounted for substantial variance in ICU scores and the overall CU profile in terms of the HiPIC and DIPSI was consistent with psychopathy conceptualizations and consistent across informant. Implications for the assessment of early externalizing trait pathology are discussed.

Callous-Unemotional Traits in Youth from a DSM-5 Trait Perspective

The current study investigated how the Callous-Unemotional (CU) trait specifier is empirically associated with the proposed trait system for personality pathology in DSM-5, and addressed the use of multiple raters in the assessment of CU traits and additional maladaptive traits in an adolescent community sample. Both mothers and adolescents (N = 197) participated in the present study. Results showed that CU traits are located in different parts of the personality space, and are significantly associated with four broad maladaptive trait dimensions, Negative Affect, Detachment, Antagonism, and Disinhibition. Despite moderate agreement between raters, self- and maternal-rated CU traits were related in a congruent manner with PID-5 traits, and adolescents provided incremental information in CU trait assessment above maternal ratings. The present results have clear implications for the conceptualization of CU traits within the overarching model of personality pathology, proposed in DSM-5, and partially supported the application of a multi-informant approach in CU trait assessment.

Developmental Manifestations of Borderline Personality Pathology from an Age-Specific Dimensional Personality Disorder Trait Framework

The current chapter addresses the description of the childhood borderline construct from a child-specific and comprehensive maladaptive trait framework (i.e. the Dimensional Personality Symptom Itempool, De Clercq, et al., 2006), relying on three different samples and applying a multi-informant design. From cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between early maladaptive traits and various operationalizations of the adult borderline construct, we propose a set of childhood maladaptive traits that can be assumed relevant descriptors of borderline-related pathology at a young age. Delineating such childhood borderline trait profile may contribute to the dimensional assessment of childhood psychopathology and creates avenues for future research that focuses on the etiological roots of borderline personality disorder and require age-specific measures of personality disorders.

Personality Pathology and Relationship Satisfaction in Dating and Married Couples.

Personality disorders (PDs) are inherently associated with deficits in relating to other people. Previous research has shown consistent negative associations between categorical PD symptoms and relationship satisfaction. The present studies extend on these findings by examining the role of maladaptive traits in a number of ways. Self- and partner-reported maladaptive traits of both partners are included. Moreover, the present studies add a couple-centered approach by investigating the effects of actual similarity, perceptual similarity, and perceptual accuracy of the maladaptive trait profile on relationship satisfaction. PDs are conceptualized using 2 dimensional maladaptive trait models, that is, the Dimensional Assessment of Personality Pathology—Basic Questionnaire in Study 1 and the Personality Inventory for DSM–5 in Study 2. A total of 167 heterosexual couples participated in Study 1 and 52 heterosexual couples in Study 2. The actor–partner interdependence model was used to examine the associations between traits and relationship satisfaction, whereas the coefficient of profile agreement was used for the couple-centered analyses. Overall, results showed that the presence of maladaptive traits within romantic relationships has a detrimental effect on relationship satisfaction. Self-ratings on maladaptive traits, how we perceive our partners, and how we are perceived by our partners on maladaptive traits make significant contributions to our relationship (dis)satisfaction. Among the maladaptive traits, negative affect and detachment were most consistently negatively associated with relationship satisfaction. The couple-centered perspective showed less explanatory value but nontrivial associations between perceptual similarity and relationship satisfaction were found in Study 2.

General and maladaptive traits and anger in a combined forensic psychiatric and general population sample

The present study examines the associations between anger and general and maladaptive traits in a combined forensic psychiatric and community sample of men. Thirty-four male forensic psychiatric patients and 219 men from the general population completed the Novaco Anger Scale (NAS; Novaco, 1994), the NEO-PI-R (Costa & McCrae, 1992), the ADP-IV (Schotte & De Doncker, 1994) and the VKP (Duijsens, Haringsma, & EurelingsBontekoe, 1999) at two measurement occasions with a one-year interval. The results of a series of multiple regression analyses showed that general and maladaptive traits accounted for a substantial amount of variance in anger scores. Neuroticism, Agreeableness and Externalizing traits were most prominent in the prediction of anger, while Conscientiousness was acting as a suppressor variable in the regression models. Strengths and limitations of the present study and implications for further research and clinical practice are discussed.