[A new approach to classifying Personality Disorders]

Abstract

Starting from the still valid ICD-10 classification of personality disorders, this text presents the process initiated and led by the WHO that aims at a fundamental change of conceptualizing personality disorders in ICD-11. The categorical classification of differential types based on polythetic criteria list will be replaced by a widely dimensional classification; in case the general criteria of a personality disorder are given, three severity levels and five trait domains are differentiated. In the original draft of the ICD-11 group, the trait qualifiers were meant only to be used in the expert setting and the severity levels described psychosocial impacts only. Meanwhile a revised draft has been prepared by the International societies for the study of personality disorders which operationalize the severity levels in a more systematized way by describing functional impairments of the self as well as of interpersonal relationships, presenting symptoms concerning emotions, cognitions and behaviors and evaluating the psychosocial impacts.