OBJECTIVE: The study of personality pathology in adolescence is in its infancy. This article examined the applicability and limits of DSM-IV @entity1314 diagnoses in adolescents, assessed the validity of a method for assessing adolescent personality pathology, and began to develop an empirically grounded classification. METHOD: A total of 296 randomly selected clinicians described a @entity1 age 14-18 in treatment for @entity1314 patterns using @entity2270 II ratings scales and the Shedler-Westen Assessment Procedure-200 for Adolescents (SWAP-200-A), a Q-sort instrument for assessing adolescent personality pathology. After examining the nature and frequency of @entity74 in the sample, the authors used Q-factor analysis to identify naturally occurring groupings of @entity1 on the basis of shared personality features. RESULTS: Axis II diagnoses in adolescents resembled those in adults, although application of DSM-IV criteria appeared to overdiagnose antisocial and @entity1314 in adolescents. Q analysis with the SWAP-200-A isolated five @entity1314 (antisocial- @entity10420 , emotionally dysregulated, avoidant-constricted, narcissistic, and histrionic) and one personality style. @entity1 ' dimensional scores on each diagnostic prototype showed predictable associations with ratings of current @entity74 , measures of adaptive functioning, and symptoms assessed with the @entity1 Behavior Checklist. CONCLUSIONS: With some exceptions, personality pathology in adolescence resembles that in adults and is diagnosable in adolescents ages 14-18. Categories and criteria developed for adults may not be the optimal way of diagnosing adolescents. Data from samples of adolescents may prove useful in developing an empirically and clinically grounded classification of personality pathology in adolescents.

Personality diagnoses in adolescence: DSM-IV XXXX II diagnoses and an empirically derived alternative.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Child', 'Patients', 'patients', 'patient'] @entity10420 :: ('MESH:D000987', 'Disease') :: ['psychopathic'] @entity2270 :: ('MESH:C566610', 'Disease') :: ['axis'] @entity74 :: ('MESH:D030342', 'Disease') :: ['axis II disorders'] @entity1314 :: ('MESH:D010554', 'Disease') :: ['personality disorders', 'maladaptive personality', 'axis II personality disorder', 'avoidant personality disorder']
@entity2270 :: (MESH:C566610,Disease) :: ['axis']
