New insights into diagnostics and therapy of personality disorders-Changes in ICD-11

Abstract

Personality disorders (PD) occur frequently and show high remission rates in the long term, while psychosocial recovery remains unsuccessful in a substantial proportion of cases. In ICD-11 the traditional view that PDs have a high stability is abandoned. Instead, the minimum duration is 2 years. The diagnostic process differentiates between three degrees of severity (mild, moderate, severe) and five prominent personality trait domains. Optionally, aborderline qualifying factor can be additionally codified. There is sufficient empirical evidence only for the treatment of borderline PD (BPD). Disorder-specific psychotherapy, in particular dialectic behavioral therapy (DBT) and mentalization-based therapy (MBT) have proven to be effective. Therapy modules targeting functional impairments and prominent personality trait domains could close the existing gaps in the disorder-specific treatment of PD.