Influence of apparently negative personality characteristics on the long-term outcome of health anxiety: Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial

Reliability of the ICD-11 personality disorder severity ratings and diagnosis

The present study aimed to investigate the interrater reliability of the dichotomous and dimensional personality disorder (PD) diagnoses based on the overall severity assessment on a rating form consisting of 18 anchored items encompassing diagnostic requirements of the International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision (ICD-11). We also aimed to examine the extent of consistency within the diagnostic requirements grouped under the domains of self- and interpersonal functioning, specific manifestations of personality dysfunction, and distress and impairment in psychosocial functioning. Our data involved a total of 184 inter-ratings of 46 consenting patients by the same set of four clinicians. The chance-corrected agreement levels were estimated at intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.89 for the overall severity composite, ICC = 0.83 for the dimensional PD diagnosis and Fleiss' kappa = 0.77 for the dichotomous PD diagnosis. Internal consistency analysis of the overall severity composite and the domain composites revealed Cronbach's alpha coefficients approaching or exceeding 0.90 level. Our findings suggest that the diagnostic requirements listed in the ICD-11 and related documents for the severity determination in PD compose an internally consistent set. With the guidance of a rating form comprised of anchored items covering this set, competency-level clinicians are likely to perform reliable evaluations of the severity of personality disturbance, and dimensional and dichotomous PD diagnoses. The development of semi-structured interviews that would further facilitate the task of inspecting and rating each diagnostic requirement reliably will possibly enhance the implementation of the ICD-11 classification for PD around the world.

The recording of personality strengths: An analysis of the impact of positive personality features on the long-term outcome of common mental disorders

Although personality strengths are assessed frequently in occupational and managerial settings and in children, they have been less used in studies of personality disorder. The aim of this study is to examine the impact of a measure of personality strengths derived from the comprehensive version of the Personality Assessment Schedule (CPAS) (i.e., positive and reinforcing traits) on clinical symptoms and functioning. Eighty-nine patients with anxiety and depression seen at the 30-year follow-up point in a cohort study (Nottingham Study of Neurotic Disorder) were administered the Comprehensive version of the PAS (CPAS). A factor analysis of the results determined the main groupings and their impact on long-term outcomes as well as their association with change of outcomes over 30 years. Five positive factors (strengths), forceful considerateness, emotional toughness, cautiousness, independence and discernment accounted for 67.2% of the variance using both Varimax and Promax rotations. Low positive scores were strongly associated with suicide attempts, moderate/severe personality disorder, cothymia (mixed anxiety-depression), greater symptomatology and poor social function. High scores were protective of serious pathology and particularly effective in inhibiting suicidal behaviour. The promotion of personality strengths may be of value in preventing suicidal behaviour and helping pro-social change in those with personality disturbance.