"Normative and pathological personality traits are theoretically associated with interpersonal behavior patterns and difficulties. However, little is known about relations between dimensional personality systems that integrate pathological and normative traits and social functioning," scientists in the United States report (see also Personality Disorders).

"The current study explores the projections of scales from two integrative frameworks, the Dimensional Assessment of Personality Pathology and the Schedule for Nonadaptive and Adaptive Personality, onto interpersonal circumplex traits and problems. The DAPP and the SNAP demonstrated similar overall validity in predicting the interpersonal domain," wrote C.J. Hopwood and colleagues, Michigan State University.

The researchers concluded: "Suggest a novel framework for understanding personality-interpersonal behavior relations by categorizing scales according to their: a) minimal, b) non-specific, c) specific, and d) differential relations to interpersonal traits and problems with important implications for future research relating clinical constructs to interpersonal behavior as well as clinical assessment and behavioral predictions based on SNAP and DAPP scales."

Hopwood and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment (An Exploratory Study of Integrative Personality Pathology Systems and the Interpersonal Circumplex. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 2009;31(4):331-339).

For more information, contact C.J. Hopwood, Michigan State University, Dept. of Psychology, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.

Publisher contact information for the Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment is: Springer, Plenum Publishers, 233 Spring St., New York, NY 10013, USA.