If an Entrepreneur Founded the DSM-5 Alternative Model of Personality Disorder: When Axis II Meets Disruptive Innovation

Personality disorder (PD) researchers proposed a highly innovative “paradigm-shifting” revamp for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th edition (DSM-5; APA, 2013). Yet, ten years later, Widiger and Hines (this issue) summarize a developmental process plagued by disagreement and stagnation, with little evidence of the field having reaped the desired benefits of this diagnostic revolution. In this commentary, we draw on principles from entrepreneurial creation, operation, and success—positioning the personality disorder scientists in the role of “disruptive innovator”—and summarize key principles from the entrepreneurial process that may be relevant in understanding the challenges and failures of the personality disorder revolution to date.

HiTOP Is Not an Improvement Over the DSM

In their response to our article (both in this issue), DeYoung and colleagues did not sufficiently address three fundamental flaws with the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP). First, HiTOP was created using a simple-structure factor-analytic approach, which does not adequately represent the dimensional space of the symptoms of psychopathology. Consequently, HiTOP is not the empirical structure of psychopathology. Second, factor analysis and dimensional ratings do not fix the problems inherent to descriptive (folk) classification; self-reported symptoms are still the basis on which clinical judgments about people are made. Finally, HiTOP is not ready to use in real-world clinical settings. There is currently no empirical evidence demonstrating that clinicians who use HiTOP have better clinical outcomes than those who use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ( DSM). In sum, HiTOP is a factor-analytic variation of the DSM that does not get the field closer to a more valid and useful taxonomy.

Sociocultural Context and the DSM-5 Alternative Model of Personality Disorder: Comment on Widiger & Hines

Widiger and Hines provide a brief overview of the development of the Alternative Model of Personality Disorder (AMPD) housed within Section 3 of the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013). They highlight eight issues and controversies related to the AMPD in need of resolution for improvement of both the AMPD model itself as well as the field of personality disorders more broadly. In this brief commentary, I add a ninth issue in need of attention both with respect to the AMPD but also within the field of personality disorders more broadly: 9) How is sociocultural context to be accommodated in AMPD—and more generally personality disorder—theory, research, and treatment? The historical intra-individual, deficit-based models for conceptualizing personality disorders linger in current personality disorder discourse. However, failure to appropriately consider sociocultural context that systematically predisposes wide swaths of the population to unequal access to resources and exposure to psychological stressors, which can impact the appearance of personality pathology, serves to stigmatize minoritized individuals. The personality disorder field, and the AMPD discourse, must appropriately contend with sociocultural context in its models otherwise it risks developing models with limited generalizability and which hold potential to adversely affect sexual and gender minoritized populations, among others.

Surviving Senior Psychopathy: Informant Reports of Deceit and Antisocial Behavior in Multiple Types of Relationships

A prevailing view among researchers and mental health clinicians is that symptoms of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD)/psychopathy decrease as affected individuals reach middle age. In the current investigation, informants were surveyed about the behavior of individuals who they believed showed traits of ASPD/psychopathy and were over the age of 50. A final sample of 1,215 respondents rated the index individuals according to the ASPD/psychopathy traits derived from the pre-publication first draft of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition, revealing high endorsement of traits associated with ASPD. Survey respondents reported their observations that individuals who met a threshold for putative ASPD/psychopathy continued to engage in antisocial behavior after age 50, and as a result the respondents endured significant harm, including material losses, financial losses, and various self-reported mental health problems. Those who knew the index individuals both before and after the age of 50 were specifically asked whether there was a change in the individual’s engagement in manipulation, deceit, and antisocial behavior; 93% of respondents reported that the behavior was just as bad or worse after age 50. Other researchers have suggested that the DSM diagnostic criteria do not accurately describe ASPD/psychopathy symptoms and behavior in older adults, and that the disorder remains stable, but its manifestation changes with age. This study supports those conclusions.

A Closer Look at Supporting Elementary Students With Autism in School

While the educational criteria to be a person impacted by autism will always evolve, implementing educational best practices with fidelity significantly improves the likelihood of a student with autism succeeding in school. This chapter presents a brief overview of the educational criteria for an autism eligibility using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), a comparison of common characteristics or developmental milestones for typically developing elementary students and students with autism, a summary of standard best practices for elementary students with autism. The chapter provides a few examples of how these best practices can be applied across grade and inclusion-level categories.

Klassifikation von Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit-/Hyperaktivitätsstörungen in der ICD-11

Zusammenfassung. Der Beitrag gibt eine kurze Übersicht über die Veränderungen in der Klassifikation von Hyperkinetischen Störungen und Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit-/Hyperaktivitätsstörungen nach ICD-11 (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems). Sowohl in der Bezeichnung als auch in der Binnendifferenzierung lehnt sich ICD-11 erfreulicherweise an das DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) an. Auch die Aufgabe der ICD-10-Kombinationsdiagnose der Hyperkinetischen Störung des Sozialverhaltens zugunsten von Mehrfachdiagnosen ist zu begrüßen. Der Verzicht auf eine exakte Operationalisierung der Kriterien hilft einerseits bei der Einordung von Grenzfällen in der klinischen Praxis, macht es aber auch notwendig, für die Klärung der einzelnen Symptome auf das DSM-5 zurückzugreifen.

Różne sposoby definiowania autyzmu. Przegląd stanowisk

Autyzm jest pojęciem wieloznacznym, nieostrym. W nomenklaturze medycznej kilkakrotnie już zmieniał się jego zakres semantyczny. W artykule przedstawiono sposoby występowania tego pojęcia w klasyfikacjach międzynarodowych DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) i ICD (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems). Cechą wspólną tych definicji jest redukcjonistyczne podejście do pacjenta (jednostki zredukowanej do objawów chorobowych) i myślenie w kategoriach choroby bądź zaburzenia (ASD – Autism Spectrum Disorder). Obecnie istnieją również inne ujęcia autyzmu, o uznanie prawomocności których zabiegają aktorzy społeczni/grupy interesu spoza establishmentu medycznego. W opinii publicznej silnie zakorzenione jest skojarzenie autyzmu z puzzlem bądź kolorem niebieskim spopularyzowane przez fundację Autism Speaks. Ponadto w wydarzeniach medialnych, publikacjach o charakterze popularno-naukowym, naukowym, w tym w literaturze terapeutycznej, coraz częściej występuje określenie „stany ze spektrum autyzmu” (Autism Spectrum Condition). Ukazanie sporu o definicję autyzmu jest istotne, gdyż z argumentacji każdej ze stron wynikają implikacje w stosunku do zdrowia.

Personality Disorders are Dead, Long Live the Interpersonal Disorders

Widiger and Hines raise a number of significant concerns with the Alternative Model of Personality Disorders (AMPD). This places the major class of psychiatric difficulties represented by the personality disorders in a precarious position because the model used in prior editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and currently reprinted in Section II is moribund if not dead, and with the AMPD’s significant problems their future is unclear. Although we agree that Widiger and Hines’ criticisms have merit, they are not the whole picture. We review additional relevant research that supports the contention that what differentiates personality disorders from other psychopathology is the self and interpersonal dysfunction, as Criterion A of the AMPD currently states. We emphasize the importance of drawing a distinction between the conceptual model and its operationalization. We argue that paradoxically, to save personality disorders we need to do away with them and replace them with the “interpersonal disorders”. There is strong theory, empirical research, and ethical arguments in favor of this conceptual reframing.

Children’s oppositional defiant disorder symptoms make parents difficult to be nice: Longitudinal association among parent emotion regulation, child emotion regulation and children’s oppositional defiant disorder symptoms in Chinese children with oppositional defiant disorder

The current study aims to clarify the longitudinal relations among parent emotion regulation (ER), child ER, and children’s oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms. In the current study, parents of 275 children (195 boys, 70.1%) with ODD symptoms ( Mage = 9.32 years, SD = 1.64) reported their ER using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, child ERs using the Emotion Regulation Checklist, and children’s ODD symptoms using the eight symptoms indicated in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) at three time points (T1, T2, and T3) within 2 years. Results indicated the longitudinal relationships between parent ER and children’s ODD symptoms were directly influenced by each other. Children’s ODD symptoms had important effects on both child ER and parent ER. Findings suggested that to reduce children’s ODD symptoms, it is necessary not only to improve child ER but also to improve parent ER.

Alkoholicy wysokofunkcjonujący – trudności diagnostyczne, charakterystyka i modele leczenia

Artykuł prezentuje trudności diagnostyczne związane z nietypowym przebiegiem problemowego picia alkoholu wśród osób wysokofunkcjonujuących (HFA - ang. High Functioning Alcoholics), które nie spełniają często przez kilkanaście lat kryteriów diagnostycznych klasyfikacji DSM-V(Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), choć cierpią z powodu symptomów nadmiernego picia. Korzystając z koncepcji Sarah Alen Benton wskazuje na typologię cech charakterystycznych dla tej grupy osób oraz czynniki ryzyka picia problemowego, uwidaczniających się w poszczególnych okresach życia, umożliwiające wczesną identyfikację symptomów rozwoju uzależnienia. Wskazuje przy tym na zmianę paradygmatów medycznych w podejściu do picia problemowego: z paradygmatu abstytencji zakładającego nieuleczalność choroby alkoholowej opierającej terapię na dożywotnim zaprzestaniu picia alkohol inspirowanym modelem ruchu Anonimowych Alkoholików, na paradygmat redukcji szkód ukazujący progresywny i przewlekły charakter wspomnianej choroby opierający terapię na naucę picia kontrolowanego. W podejściu terapeutycznym proponowanym pijącym problemowo osobom wysokofunkcjonującym stosowane są oba podejścia.