Psychopathology and personality are separate areas of psychology, but they aren’t as separate as previously thought. In fact, a new study suggests that the two spheres are closely tied, with around a fourth of people’s risk of mental health conditions, including their risk of depression, anxiety, and phobias, being attributable to their personality traits.
Published in the Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science, the study suggests that personality traits can serve as predictors of common mental health conditions — a finding that could change the way we think about psychology while also informing clinical tools and treatments.
Read More: Scientists Once Thought Personality Was Set in Stone. They Were Wrong
For the most part, a person’s personality and psychopathology are set apart in psychology research. The reason for this is partially related to the idea that one is more stable than the other.
“Personality research primarily focuses on adaptive and ...
