Confirmatory Factor Analyses of DSM-IV Cluster C Personality Disorder Criteria

Notwithstanding its research and clinical relevance, the dimensionality
and validity of the DSM-IV avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive
personality disorders (PDs) criteria is still a largely unexplored
topic. The aim of this study was to test the factor structure for DSM-IV
Cluster C PD criteria in a sample of 641 consecutively admitted outpatients.
Factor analysis results suggested that avoidant, dependent, and
obsessive-compulsive PDs share a common latent dimension, and supported
the three-factor structure of both observer and self-report ratings
of DSM-IV Cluster C PD criteria. The pattern of factor loadings,
however, was different from the one expected according to the DSM-IV
classification.