The impact of aversive personality traits on the psychotic-spectrum of disorders.

OBJECTIVES

Though relatively unexplored in clinical populations, aversive personality traits have been shown to impact the expression, the management, and the outcomes of psychotic disorders. This paper seeks to gather and organize existing evidence of the complex interplay linking social ethics, personality and experiences of psychosis through the lens of the so-called Dark Triad personality model, comprising the three multidimensional constructs Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy.

METHODS

A semi-systematic review of major literature databases was conducted; search terms aimed at capturing each of the Dark Triad dimensions and their known relations with both clinical (with single-symptom approach) and non-clinical psychotic experiences.

RESULTS

Reviewed studies suggest that all the components of the Dark Triad model present significant clinical implications in the management of psychotic disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

Aversive personality traits interact with and modulate the experiences of psychosis. They can be shown to influence the clinical and functional outcomes of psychotic patients. Therefore, further research on this theme seems justified in that it may inform rehabilitative efforts.