Validating the Alternative DSM-5 Criteria for Personality Disorders: A Study in the Basque Region of Spain

In 2010, the Working Group of Personality and Personality Disorders of the DSM-5 task force proposed a thorough diagnostic reformulation of the category of personality disorders. After debates and negotiations, these alternative criteria ended in Section III of the DSM-5 manual (diagnoses in need of further testing). We tested these alternative criteria in a sample of Basque-speaking patients from the Basque region of Spain who had clinical diagnoses of personality disorder, using instruments that had been developed and used as part of the DSM-5 field trials in the United States for assessing the proposed new diagnostic category. All study instruments were translated and adapted for use in the Basque language. Interviews were done twice (time 1 and time 2) and were scheduled at least 1 month apart to assess test-retest reliability. The results demonstrated that the DSM-5 alternative criteria worked well in this clinical sample, with highly satisfactory levels of reliability being attained and a good level of clinician's satisfaction related to the use of the new criteria. The alternative criteria in personality disorders seemed to work well in this European sample with unique linguistic features.