DSM-III-R self-defeating personality disorder criteria evaluated by patients' self-report questionnaire: relationships with other personality disorders and positive predictive powers of the individual criteria.

A self-report questionnaire for DSM-III-R personality disorders (PDs) was completed by 64 patients in adult psychiatric practice and their informants. Various correlations and associations of the number of patients' positive criteria (scores) for the controversial category of self-defeating PD (SDPD) are reported. When evaluated by a patient's self-report, the highest correlations of SDPD scores were with borderline PD in relation to individual PDs, and cluster C in relation to the 3 DSM-III-R PD clusters. Criteria 2 and 7 had positive predictive powers of 0.75 and 0.67 for membership of the subgroup based on scores of 5 or more positive criteria for SDPD. Positive ratings for criterion 5, involving anhedonia, were significantly associated with informants' ratings. SDPD features appear to be present in many psychiatric patients with PD and should be evaluated in PD assessment.