Age-Neutrality of a Brief Assessment of the Section III Alternative Model for Personality Disorders in Older Adults

The alternative model for personality disorders in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
(DSM-5) is considered an important step toward a possibly better conceptualization of personality pathology in older
adulthood, by the introduction of levels of personality functioning (Criterion A) and trait dimensions (Criterion B). Our
main aim was to examine age-neutrality of the Short Form of the Severity Indices of Personality Problems (SIPP-SF;
Criterion A) and Personality Inventory for DSM-5–Brief Form (PID-5-BF; Criterion B). Differential item functioning (DIF)
analyses and more specifically the impact on scale level through differential test functioning (DTF) analyses made clear
that the SIPP-SF was more age-neutral (6% DIF, only one of four domains showed DTF) than the PID-5-BF (25% DIF, all
four tested domains had DTF) in a community sample of older and younger adults. Age differences in convergent validity
also point in the direction of differences in underlying constructs. Concurrent and criterion validity in geriatric psychiatry
inpatients suggest that both the SIPP-SF scales measuring levels of personality functioning (especially self-functioning) and
the PID-5-BF might be useful screening measures in older adults despite age-neutrality not being confirmed.

Publication year:2018

Keywords:DSM-5 Section III, older adults, personality disorders

BOF-keylabel:yes

BOF-publication weight:2

CSS-citation score:2

Authors:Regional

Authors from:Higher Education

Accessibility:Closed