Conclusions and Future Directions

This chapter provides an overarching review of the current state of personality disorder research, addresses some of the many gaps that currently exist in the literature where more research is needed, and provides recommendations for the field’s future directions. It incorporates a discussion on the ongoing controversy over whether personality disorders are best suited to a dimensional or categorical diagnostic model. It concludes with a review of several promising studies that examine potential new treatment approaches, which warrant further investigation. Topics covers include the neurobiology of personality disorder, research in the area, future directions for research, a dimensional diagnostic model, and new treatment approaches.