The continuity between DSM-5 criterion-based and trait-based models for personality disorders in an Iranian community sample

The current study sought to examine the continuity between criterion-based and trait-based models of Personality Disorders (PDs) in an Iranian community sample to investigate the convergence between the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) Section II and Section III PDs. For this purpose, we first evaluated the cross-cultural factorial structure of the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5; Krueger et al. Psychological Medicine, 42 (9), 1879-1890, Krueger et al., 2012 ); a self-report instrument which is designed to assess DSM-5 section III personality traits. Participants were 695 Iranian community members, aged 18–55, who completed the PID-5 and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5-Screening Personality Questionnaire (SCID-5-SPQ; First et al., 2016 ). Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling results revealed that the five-factor structure of the PID-5 was fairly consistent with theoretical expectations. Findings also provided support for the use of the hypothesized traits making up DSM-5 Section III PD criteria in the prediction of their Section II PD counterparts. However, several non-hypothesized facets also displayed moderate to large correlations with Section II PD counterparts; we found that (1) the core features of paranoid, borderline, avoidant, and dependent PDs were best described with the facets located on PID-5 Negative Affectivity domain; (2) the facets of PID-5 Detachment reflected the core feature of schizoid PD; (3) the core features of narcissistic, histrionic, and antisocial PDs were well presented by a series facets which belonged to PID-5 Antagonism domain; (4) the low level of PID-5 Disinhibition was demonstrated the core feature of obsessive-compulsive PD, which is rigid perfectionism; and finally (5) the common features of schizotypal PD were clearly defined by facets of PID-5 Psychoticism. Implications for these findings are discussed.