Personality Pathology among Adults with History of Childhood Sexual Abuse: Study of the Relevance of DSM-5 Proposed Traits and Psychobiological Features of Temperament and Character

Abstract

Background: The main aim of this study was to determine whether childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is reflected in the pathological traits of the alternative model of personality disorders (AMPD) in section-III of DSM-5 and Cloninger’s temperament and character profiles. Methods: The Persian versions of Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5), Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI-125), and Structured Clinical Inventory for DSM-IV-TR-Axis II-Screening Questionnaire (SCID-II-SQ) were administered to 43 Iranian college students who reported a history of CSA and 390 participants who did not. Bivariate Pearson correlations and general linear model repeated measures (GLMRM) were used to compare results. Results: Bivariate correlations indicated that both the PID-5 and TCI-125 were significantly associated with their relevant personality disorders. Profile analysis showed that the pathological trait domains of the PID-5, except for negative affectivity, were significantly greater in those with an experience of CSA. Of the seven dimensions of TCI-125, novelty seeking and persistence were higher in those with an experience of CSA, but reward dependence, self-directedness, and cooperativeness were lower. Conclusions: These results confirmed a correlation between CSA and personality dysfunction. The pattern of dysfunction was complex and somewhat different from the two facet measures used.