Phenotypic and Genetic Structure of Traits Delineating Personality Disorder

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Abstract
INTEREST IN dimensional models of personality disorder has increased recently because of accumulating empirical support for a dimensional approach1-3 and the need for more specific constructs to investigate biological factors.4 Despite this interest, to our knowledge, a consensual set of dimensions to represent personality disorder has not emerged. Instead, various structures have been proposed that include Eysenck's5,6 3-dimensional model of neuroticism, extraversion, and psychoticism, and the 5-factor approach that consists of Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness,7-9 the biological model of Cloninger and colleagues10-12 with 4 temperaments and 3 character types, the interpersonal circumplex in which traits are organized into a circular configuration based on 2 dimensions of affiliation and dominance,13-16 and structures derived from multivariate analyses of the clinical features used to diagnose personality disorder.17-19