Validity of criteria for DSM-III self-defeating personality disorder.

Criteria for self-defeating personality disorder were examined using a standard measure in 148 psychiatric outpatients. The best individual criterion was self-defeating B (taken advantage of by others). Self-defeating A (sacrifices needs for others) and K (being hurt is sexually arousing) were of little value. Although some dependent, histronic, and avoidant criteria were also related to self-defeating personality disorder, the disorders appeared fairly clearly separate. There did appear to be more overlap (although not identity) with borderline personality disorder. It appears possible that in some circumstances self-defeating personality disorder might be diagnosed using two criteria.