There has been increasing research focus on the relationship between eating disorders and personality types and traits separately. In this pilot study, we present a mixed methods approach to classify individuals with an eating disorder as Overcontrol (OC; anxiousand perfectionistic), Undercontrol (UC; emotionally dysregulated) or resilient (without personality pathology). We then explore the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition, Alternative Model of Personality Disorder trait profiles associated with OC and UC presentations. Twenty individuals (12 women, 2 men, 6 gender-diverse) seeking treatment for eating disorders were classified as OC, UC or resilient based on a structured clinical interview and clinician rating scales supplemented by self-report measures of depression, anxiety and stress. Group differences in DSM-5 alternative model personality traits and eating pathology were examined. Twelve individuals were classified as OC, six as resilient, and two as UC. The OC group scored higher than the resilient group on the following DSM-5 alternative model of personality disorder traits: Anhedonia, Depressivity, Emotional Lability, Submissiveness and Separation Insecurity with large effect sizes (Cohen's d = .0.80–1.84). Our research suggests the importance of assessing the public and private nature of problem behaviour within clinical assessment. In addition, our results indicated potential benefit of further research focused on understanding personality types in the context of DSM-5 pathological personality traits. A pilot study using personality traits designed to assess personality disorder to identify overcontrol, under control and resilient personality types among people seeking treatment for an eating disorder. The understanding of personality disorders has shifted from defining discrete categories to understanding personality and personality disorder as a series of personality traits. At the same time, there is growing research that suggests that classifying individuals as overcontrol, undercontrol or resilient personality types can assist with understanding eating disorders. We present a pilot study designed to assess individuals who are seeking treatment for eating disorders and classify participants as overcontrol, undercontrol or resilient based on interviews. We then compared the groups based on personality traits. Of the twenty individuals (12 women, 2 men, 6 gender-diverse) who participated in the study, twelve individuals were classified as overcontrol, six as resilient, and two as undercontrol. The overcontrol group scored higher than the resilient groups on traits such as Anhedonia, Depressivity, Emotional Lability, Hostility, Perceptual Dysregulation, Risk Taking, Separation Insecurity. Our research helps to pave the way for further investigation into the relationship between personality traits and personality types.
Gilmartin et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
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