Functional Impairment in Personality Disorders

This study examines the relationship of DSM-III-R personality disorders to functional impairment as measured by the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale. The results include: (1) Patients with any personality disorder were more impaired than those without. (2) The greater the total number of Axis II criteria met, the more severe the functional impairment (r = .60, p >.01). (3) Using a categorical classification model (i.e., threshold), schizotypal and schizoid personality disorders were associated with the greatest functional impairment, whereas use of a dimensional model (i.e., continuum) found that patients with schizotypal, paranoid, and borderline personality disorders were most severely impaired. (4) Disorders associated with the least functional impairment were histrionic and obsessive—compulsive.