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Personality Disorders in Older Adults: Emerging Research Issues

  • Personality Disorders (C Schmahl, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Empirical research focusing on personality disorders (PDs) among older adults is mainly limited to studies on psychometric properties of age-specific personality tests, the age neutrality of specific items/scales, and validation of personality inventories for older adults. We identified only two treatment studies—one on dialectical behavior therapy and one on schema therapy—both with promising results among older patients despite small and heterogeneous populations. More rigorous studies incorporating age-specific adaptations are needed. Furthermore, in contrast to increasing numbers of psychometric studies, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-5 pays little attention to the characteristics of older adults with PDs. Moreover, the constructs “personality change due to another medical condition” and “late-onset personality disorder” warrant further research among older adults. These needs will become even more pressing given the aging society worldwide.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Conflict of Interest

S. P. J. van Alphen, S. D. M. van Dijk, A. C. Videler, G. Rossi, E. Dierckx, F. Bouckaert, and R. C. Oude Voshaar declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical and Life Span Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium

    S. P. J. van Alphen, G. Rossi & E. Dierckx

  2. Department of Old Age Psychiatry, Mondriaan Hospital, Kloosterkensweg 10, PO Box 4436, 6401 CX, Heerlen, The Netherlands

    S. P. J. van Alphen

  3. University Center for Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands

    S. D. M. van Dijk & R. C. Oude Voshaar

  4. Department of Old Age Psychiatry, Breburg Hospital, Lage Witsiebaan 4, 5042 DA, Tilburg, The Netherlands

    A. C. Videler

  5. University Psychiatric Center KU Leuven, Leuvensesteenweg 517, 3070, Kortenberg, Belgium

    F. Bouckaert

  6. Tranzo Department, Tilburg University, Warandelaan 2, 5037 AB, Tilburg, The Netherlands

    A. C. Videler

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  1. S. P. J. van Alphen
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  2. S. D. M. van Dijk
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  3. A. C. Videler
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  4. G. Rossi
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  7. R. C. Oude Voshaar
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Correspondence to S. P. J. van Alphen.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Personality Disorders

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van Alphen, S.P.J., van Dijk, S.D.M., Videler, A.C. et al. Personality Disorders in Older Adults: Emerging Research Issues. Curr Psychiatry Rep 17, 538 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-014-0538-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-014-0538-9

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