It is now possible to reliably diagnose personality disorders in young people

For many years diagnosing a personality disorder in young people was considered undesirable, as the diagnoses themselves were said not to be reliable.  However, research has now shown that personality disorders in adolescents can indeed be diagnosed reliably and validly. This pathology is more easily understood on the basis of our knowledge of normal personality development. That offers handles for improving the process of diagnosing, and for developing new treatment methods.

Improved care for adolescents with a personality disorder

In this area Utrecht University works together with the Centrum Adolescenten Psychiatrie of the Reinier van Arkelgroep. Various research projects have already been published into the origins and development of personality disorders among adolescents. We are also researching a new treatment method for adolescents with borderline personality disorders.