Joint factorial structure of psychopathology and personality

Abstract

BackgroundNormative and pathological personality traits have rarely been integrated into a joint large-scale structural analysis with psychiatric disorders, although a recent study suggested they entail a common individual differences continuum.MethodsWe explored the joint factor structure of 11 psychiatric disorders, five personality-disorder trait domains (DSM-5 Section III), and five normative personality trait domains (the ‘Big Five’) in a population-based sample of 2796 Norwegian twins, aged 19‒46.ResultsThree factors could be interpreted: (i) a general risk factor for all psychopathology, (ii) a risk factor specific to internalizing disorders and traits, and (iii) a risk factor specific to externalizing disorders and traits. Heritability estimates for the three risk factor scores were 48% (95% CI 41‒54%), 35% (CI 28‒42%), and 37% (CI 31‒44%), respectively. All 11 disorders had uniform loadings on the general factor (congruence coefficient of 0.991 with uniformity). Ignoring sign and excluding the openness trait, this uniformity of factor loadings held for all the personality trait domains and all disorders (congruence 0.983).ConclusionsBased on our findings, future research should investigate joint etiologic and transdiagnostic models for normative and pathological personality and other psychopathology.

The p factor: genetic analyses support a general dimension of psychopathology in childhood and adolescence

“…Future research might investigate the extent to which p extends to other behavioural domains. For example, suggestive evidence of links between p and personality has begun to emerge (Rosenström et al., ). In addition, instead of testing competing factor structures, we focused on the common pathway model, since the present study aimed to investigate the most parsimonious highest order part of the hierarchy that we call p. This is further justified by evidence for correlations and heterotypic sequential comorbidity across the internalising and externalising domains (Caspi & Moffitt, ).…”

Genetic Associations Between Childhood Psychopathology and Adult Depression and Associated Traits in 42 998 Individuals

“…Estimates were highest for measurements of the same trait at adjacent ages, around 0.50, and lowest between selfrated and maternally rated measures, around 0.20. The results of the univariate analyses in each cohort are displayed in eTables 10,11,12,13,14,15, and 16 in the Supplement.…”

“…These include not only internalizing problems, such as depression and anxiety, 1,2 but also externalizing traits, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and aggression. [3][4][5] Moreover, both in prospective and retrospective studies, behavioral and emotional problems during childhood and adolescence have been associated with other adult outcomes that are associated with adult mood disorders, including educational attainment (EA), [6][7][8][9] insomnia, 10,11 subjective well-being (SWB), 12 personality, [13][14][15][16] and body mass index (BMI; calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared). [17][18][19] Both twin/family and molecular genetic studies have reported heritability [20][21][22] and stability [23][24][25] of psychopathology over time.…”

Thepfactor: Genetic analyses support a general dimension of psychopathology in childhood and adolescence

“…Future research might investigate the extent to which p might extend to other behavioural domains. For example, suggestive evidence of links between p and personality have begun to emerge (Rosenström et al 2018).…”