The DSM-5 alternative model of personality disorders from the perspective of adult attachment: A study in community-dwelling adults

Abstract

To assess how the maladaptive personality domains and facets that were included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) Alternative Model of Personality Disorders relate to adult attachment styles, 480 Italian nonclinical adults were administered the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5) and the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ). To evaluate the uniqueness of the associations between the PID-5 scales and the ASQscales, the participantswere also administered the Big Five Inventory (BFI). Multiple regression analyses showed that the ASQ scales significantly predicted both PID-5 domain scales and BFI scales; however, the relationships were different both qualitatively and quantitatively.With the exception of the PID-5 risk taking scale (adjusted R2 = 0.02), all other PID-5 trait scales were significantly predicted by the ASQ scales, median adjusted R2 value = 0.25, all ps <0.001. Our findings suggest that the maladaptive personality domains and traits listed in the DSM-5 AlternativeModel of Personality Disorders show meaningful associations with adult attachment styles.