An item response theory integration of normal and abnormal personality scales.

• DOI: 10.1037/a0018136
• Publication Date: 2010-02-02T14:27:45Z
• Authors: Douglas B. Samuel; Leonard J. Simms; Lee Anna Clark; W. John Livesley; Thomas A. Widiger
• Keywords: Personality theory

The DSM-IV-TR currently conceptualizes personality disorders (PDs) as categorical syndromes that are distinct from normal personality.However, an alternative dimensional viewpoint is PDs maladaptive expressions of general traits.The perspective postulates pathology exists at a more extreme level the latent trait than does personality.This hypothesis was examined using item response theory analyses comparing scales two instruments -the Dimensional Assessment Personality Pathology-Basic Questionnaire (DAPP-BQ; Livesley & Jackson, in press) and Schedule for Nonadaptive Adaptive (SNAP; Clark, 1993; Simms, Wu, Casillas, -with instrument designed to assess range personality, NEO Inventory -Revised (NEO PI-R; Costa McCrae, 1992).The results indicate respective these shared constructs, with PI-R providing information lower (normal) DAPP-BQ SNAP higher (abnormal) range.Nevertheless, also demonstrated substantial overlap coverage.Implications findings discussed respect study development items would provide specific discriminations along underlying continua.