Abstract
The alternative model for personality disorders in DSM-5 and the upcoming ICD-11 stimulated an increased interest in the concept of personality functioning for the diagnosis of personality disorders. Furthermore, the impact of personality functioning on other mental disorders has become the focus of recent research efforts. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive and critical study of the empirical literature on the relationship between personality functioning and anxiety disorders. Recent studies predominantly show a positive association of anxiety symptoms and disorders with an impairment in personality functioning. However, no evidence was found for different levels of personality functioning according to the type of anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders can occur at all levels of personality organization. Anxiety disorders are associated with significant impairment in personality functioning. As the underlying personality structure is known to play a crucial role for treatment outcome, the evaluation of personality functioning should be a central part of a comprehensive diagnostic process and treatment planning in patients with anxiety disorders.
Highlights
The Alternative DSM-5 Model for Personality Disorders as well as the upcoming IDC-11 have established a new focus on diagnosing personality disorders (PD): personality functioning
Patients and control subjects were diagnosed according to DSM-IV [18] by means of SCIDI and -II [19, 20] and underwent the Structured Interview for Personality Organization (STIPO) [10]
Our data demonstrate that anxiety disorders are associated with an impaired personality functioning, which is moderate when no comorbid personality disorder is present and more severe in case of comorbid PD
Summary
The Alternative DSM-5 Model for Personality Disorders as well as the upcoming IDC-11 have established a new focus on diagnosing personality disorders (PD): personality functioning. Hartmann emphasized the relevance of ego functions for psychosocial adaptation as opposed to neurotic conflicts in the aetiology of mental disorders [6] In his conceptual work Kernberg [7, 8] elaborated the impact of early experiences in relationships on the maturation of psychic structure or – in his words – personality organization. Patients with impaired personality function (Kernberg coined the term “borderline personality organization” for this group) suffer from identity diffusion, i.e., their internal images of the self and significant others are contradictory, superficial, and not integrated They are not able to maintain stable interpersonal relationships, are vulnerable to stress (employ primitive defence mechanisms), suffer from impaired impulse control, especially in terms of self-directed and otherdirected aggression, and tend to have less stable moral values and behaviour. In addition to an even worse personality functioning in all of the described domains they suffer from an impaired reality testing
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
