TY - JOUR
T1 - The nature, diagnosis, and treatment of neuroticism
T2 - Back to the future
AU - Barlow, David H.
AU - Sauer-Zavala, Shannon
AU - Carl, Jenna R.
AU - Bullis, Jacqueline R.
AU - Ellard, Kristen K.
PY - 2014/5
Y1 - 2014/5
N2 - We highlight the role of neuroticism in the development and course of emotional disorders and make a case for shifting the focus of intervention to this higher-order dimension of personality. Recent decades have seen great emphasis placed on differentiating disorders into Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders diagnoses; however, evidence has suggested that splitting disorders into such fine categories may be highlighting relatively trivial differences. Emerging research on the latent structure of anxiety and mood disorders has indicated that trait neuroticism, cultivated through genetic, neurobiological, and psychological factors, underscores the development of these disorders. We raise the possibility of a new approach for conceptualizing these disorders-as emotional disorders. From a service-delivery point of view, we explore the possibility that neuroticism may be more malleable than previously thought and may possibly be amenable to direct intervention. The public-health implications of directly treating and even preventing the development of neuroticism would be substantial.
AB - We highlight the role of neuroticism in the development and course of emotional disorders and make a case for shifting the focus of intervention to this higher-order dimension of personality. Recent decades have seen great emphasis placed on differentiating disorders into Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders diagnoses; however, evidence has suggested that splitting disorders into such fine categories may be highlighting relatively trivial differences. Emerging research on the latent structure of anxiety and mood disorders has indicated that trait neuroticism, cultivated through genetic, neurobiological, and psychological factors, underscores the development of these disorders. We raise the possibility of a new approach for conceptualizing these disorders-as emotional disorders. From a service-delivery point of view, we explore the possibility that neuroticism may be more malleable than previously thought and may possibly be amenable to direct intervention. The public-health implications of directly treating and even preventing the development of neuroticism would be substantial.
KW - Anxiety disorders
KW - Comorbidity
KW - Temperament/personality and psychopathology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84900824225&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84900824225&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/2167702613505532
DO - 10.1177/2167702613505532
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:84900824225
SN - 2167-7026
VL - 2
SP - 344
EP - 365
JO - Clinical Psychological Science
JF - Clinical Psychological Science
IS - 3
ER -