Axis II Personality Disorders: Diagnostic and Treatment Issues
Thomas A. Widiger Ph.D.1 and
Allen Frances M.D.2
1 The University of Kentucky, Department of Psychology, 115 Kastle Hall, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506
2 Cornell University Medical College in New York City, The Outpatient Department at the Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic of New York Hospital
The placement of personality disorders on a separate axis in DSM-III reflects increased interest in their diagnosis and treatment and encourages clinicians to consider the effects of personality style on axis I clinical syndromes. In this review of axis II personality disorders, the authors discuss methodological issues rekited to the diagnosis of all personality disorders, review the use of various treatment modalities, and present current issues and controversies related to specific personality disorders. They urge that any revision of DSM-III incorporate more reliable and clinically meaningful criteria, perhaps substituting a multidimensional classification system for the current categorical model.
