The incremental validity of the revised Psychopathology Five in the prediction of personality pathology

Abstract

The alternative model of personality disorders as proposed by the Personality and Personality Disorders workgroup for publication in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013) suggests that personality disorders are best characterized as pathological variants of normal personality traits. Despite empirical research and clinical insight tending to support this supposition, the use of the medically-oriented classification system persists in the main body of the DSM-5. However, based on their findings, the Personality and Personality Disorder workgroup recommended that the categorical system be revised and replaced with a hybrid model. Ultimately the editors of the DSM-5 chose to publish the alternative model as an emerging measure. Frequently used measures of personality, such as The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF; Ben-Porath, & Tellegen, 2008; 2011), which contains scales that assess maladaptive personality traits (Psychopathology-5r scales; PSY-5r), can be utilized to examine the extent to which personality traits provide additional information regarding personality dysfunction. The goal of the present study is to examine the incremental validity of the PSY-5r constructs in the prediction of personality pathology as assessed by the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory Third Edition (MCMI-III; Millon, Millon, Davis, & Grossman, 2009). Four hundred and forty clients from an acute psychiatric inpatient facility completed both the MMPI-2-RF and the MCMI-III for treatment planning. Hierarchical regression analyses with MCMI-III personality disorder scales as criterion were calculated. For each regression conceptually-related Clinical scale(s) were entered in the first block, relevant Special Problem scale(s) were entered in the second block, and finally in the third block the select PSY-5r scale(s) were entered. In most analyses, after correcting for item overlap, the PSY-5r scales added a significant increment of variance to the clinical and special problem scales.