Citation

Duff S, Kinderman P. J. Investig. Psych. Offender Profil. 2008; 5(1‐2): 45-57.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/jip.79

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper explores the extent to which the diagnosis of personality disorder is valid and reliable, whether such a diagnosis conveys useful information of predictive value to forensic psychology, and thus, the extent to which such a diagnosis may be of use in investigative psychology. It argues that the diagnostic criteria are of questionable reliability, validity, and utility. Using a recently developed model of the psychological underpinnings of the problematic thoughts, emotions, and behaviours encompassed by the term ‘personality disorder’, it argues that such problems emerge from psychological processes that are part of the ‘normal’ architecture of cognition rather than from an ‘abnormal’ psychology particular to personality disorder. Great caution is therefore urged before investigative psychology adopts such terminology and associated methodologies from clinical psychology or psychiatry. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.