Taxometric analyses of paranoid and schizoid personality disorders.

There remains debate about whether personality disorders (PDs) are better conceptualized as categorical, reflecting discontinuity from normal personality; or dimensional, existing on a continuum of severity with normal personality traits. Evidence suggests that most PDs are dimensional but there is a lack of consensus about the structure of Cluster A disorders. Taxometric methods are adaptable to investigating the taxonic status of psychiatric disorders.

Latent structure of unipolar and bipolar mood symptoms.

Objectives:   The taxonic versus dimensional status of mood symptoms has been the subject of debate among mental health professionals. Conventional diagnostic models suggest that mood disorders are categorical; however, the inability of categorical models to adequately account for subthreshold unipolar and bipolar presentations and the heterotypic continuity of symptoms in unipolar and bipolar cases has resulted in growing support for dimensional views. The current study sought to evaluate the relative viabilities of categorical and dimensional models of mood symptoms within a taxometric framework.