The role of identity in the DSM-5 classification of personality disorders

Klaus Schmeck, Susanne Schlüter-Müller, Pamela A Foelsch, Stephan Doering

In the revised Diagnostic and Statistical Manual DSM-5 the definition of personality disorder diagnoses has not been changed from that in the DSM-IV-TR. However, an alternative model for diagnosing personality disorders where the construct "identity" has been integrated as a central diagnostic criterion for personality disorders has been placed in section III of the manual. The alternative model's hybrid nature leads to the simultaneous use of diagnoses and the newly developed "Level of Personality Functioning-Scale" (a dimensional tool to define the severity of the disorder). Pathological personality traits are assessed in five broad domains which are divided into 25 trait facets. With this dimensional approach, the new classification system gives, both clinicians and researchers, the opportunity to describe the patient in much more detail than previously possible. The relevance of identity problems in assessing and understanding personality pathology is illustrated using the new classification system applied in two case examples of adolescents with a severe personality disorder.