Six basic dimensions of personality and a seventh factor of generalized dysfunctional personality: a diathesis system covering all personality disorders

The five-factor model (FFM) of personality has recently been claimed to be comprehensive for all dimensionally conceived personality disorders (PDs). This assumption is refuted on the grounds of a principal component analysis conducted for three basic factor inventories (FFPI, NEO-FFI, Hamburg Personality Inventory), 22 explorative facet scales for normal personality and a questionnaire inventory (Inventory of Clinical Personality Accentuations) of 24 PD scales. Seven substantial orthogonal Varimax factors were found explaining 73% of the total variance. The five factors of the FFM were replicated. In addition, a new basic factor 'risk and competition seeking' (basic dimension 'risk', BD-R) emerged replicating findings of Andresen. The massive seventh factor was substantially loaded by all 24 PD scales and interpreted as 'general dysfunctional personality' (GDP). Most of the highly loaded scales describe varying forms of cognitive aberration. Together with GDP, the six-factor model now explains about 73% of all PD scales, thus, a virtually comprehensive descriptive diathesis system is achieved. Without GDP and BD-R, only 25% can be accounted for by the FFM. Five of the six normal dimensions will be loaded with positive and negative signs by some PDs. Neuroticism (BD-N) is still unique regarding its positive substantial correlations with almost all PD scales. BD-N is also the only normal factor which is correlated with GDP at about 0.50. A geometric model for the relationships between basic and clinical factors is presented.