Personality disorder in adolescence

Abstract

SummaryThere is considerable debate about the diagnosis of personality disorder in adolescence. It is argued that, because personality is still developing in the teenage years, it is impossible to state with certainty that a young person's personality is disordered. Alternatively, some researchers and clinicians argue that it is possible to diagnose emerging personality disorder on the basis of trait theories of personality. We review the evidence for both sides of the debate.

Prevalence and Severity of Categorical and Dimensional Personality Disorders in Adolescents with Eating Disorders

“…Clinical diagnostic manuals [Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM‐IV) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD‐10)] suggest caution in diagnosing PDs in adolescents, because it has been argued that the personality is not fully formed until early adulthood (Adshead, Brodrick, Preston, & Deshpande, ; Freeman & Reinecke, ; Westen, Shedler, Durrett, Glass, & Martens, ). Other theorists, however, hold that some personality traits are present and stable from early childhood onwards.…”

“…Other theorists, however, hold that some personality traits are present and stable from early childhood onwards. Many clinicians are reluctant to diagnose PD during youth (Guilé & Greenfield, ), because an inaccurate diagnosis of PD in young people may focus attention away from interventions that improve their treatment and may stigmatize them (Adshead et al, ; Magallón‐Neri et al, ). However, a growing body of research suggests that personality pathology constitutes a major form of psychopathology in adolescents, just as it does in adults (Feenstra, Busschbach, Verheul, & Hutsebaut, ; Magallón‐Neri et al, ; Westen & Chang, ).…”

Behavioral Analysis of Maternal Filicide

“…Although indicators of a personality disorder may be traced back to an individual's adolescence and early adulthood, predicting or diagnosing a personality disorder in a child/adolescent is not typically done since it is a commonly held belief that one's personality is still developing. Nonetheless, some believe that emerging personality disorders can be identified utilizing the trait theories of personality (Adshead et al 2012).…”

Personalidad internalizante y externalizante y efectos subjetivos en una muestra de adolescentes consumidores de cánnabis

“…En estudios en los que se ha comparado a adolescentes consumidores y no consumidores utilizando el Inventario Clínico de Millon para Adolescentes (MACI) (Millon, 1993) se han observado que el grupo de consumidores presentaba puntuaciones más altas en las escalas de personalidad Rebelde, Rudo, Oposicionista, Tendencia límite (Becoña et al, 2011;Fantin, 2006) y puntuaciones inferiores en las escalas de Sumiso y Conformista (Faúndez y Vinet, 2009). No obstante, los estudios con adolescentes son escasos, posiblemente, debido a la falta de consenso sobre la aplicabilidad del constructo de personalidad en edades tempranas o en la adolescencia (Adshead, Brodrick, Preston, y Deshpande, 2012).…”