Are personality disorder dimensions related over time? An examination over the course of ten years using multivariate growth modeling

Objective Despite the well-documented literature on cross-sectional comorbidity, there is a paucity of data on the associations between personality disorders (PDs) over time. Using multivariate growth modeling, the present study examined the inter-relationships between pairs of PD disorder dimensions. Methods We tested these associations in a sample of 142 depressed outpatients followed-up five times over the course of 10 years. Results We found cross-sectional associations between the initial levels of severity of many pairs of PD dimensions. However, there was limited support for longitudinal associations between PD dimensions. Conclusion These findings suggest that the course of PD dimensions is fairly independent of each other, and that initial levels of PD dimensions have relatively little prognostic value for predicting the course of other PD dimensions.