Contemporary integrative interpersonal theory in diagnosing relational dynamics in personality disorders

Abstract

Accumulating empirical evidence suggests that despite some issues of clinical utility, dimensional models of personality disorders perform better than categorical ones. The aim of the paper was to present the contemporary integrative interpersonal theory (CIIT), which can become an extension of dimensional models by taking into account the pathomechanism and relational dynamics of personality disorders. Interpersonal situation, which is the field for the expression of personality pathology, is the basic unit of analysis of functioning in the presented approach. The interpersonal situation model is structured by the motives of causality and communality, and more precisely defined by the concept of four systems: self, affect, perception and behaviour. Personality pathology manifests itself through a combination of dysregulation and distortion in each system, and the coordinated pattern of motivation, perception, emotions and behaviours can be depicted as an interpersonal signature. The concept can be used to analyse internal and interpersonal relationships of an individual, as well as to monitor and diagnose the relational processes between the patient and the clinician. Using the presented theory in practice would increase the accuracy of conceptualisation by understanding an individual pathomechanism, including both external and internal relevant factors. Additionally, the interpersonal situation model can be a valuable tool to help identify and organise patient data.