Uso y abuso de los autoinformes en la evaluación de los trastornos de personalidad

Abstract

In this paper an analysis of the observed discrepancies in studies about the comorbidity between mental disorders of Axis I and personality disorders was carried out. Research shows a wide range of the comorbidity rates, with variations in function of the kind of assessment tool used. The studies that use self-reports show significantly higher rates of personality disorders than the ones using clinical interviews. Therefore, self-reports have a tendency to over-diagnose personality disorders. However, clinical interviews are stricter and more conservative and so the prevalence rates are lower, even with significant differences when both types of assessment tools are used with the same clinical sample. These data are illustrated with specific studies carried out in some clinical disorders: alcoholism, pathological gambling, cocaine dependence and eating disorders. Lastly, implications of this study for clinical practice and future research are commented upon. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract)