In the past, diagnostic criteria for personality disorders were categorical and absolute; patients either met the criteria
or they did not. But new proposed criteria for DSM-5 reflect the understanding that personality pathology varies by degree.
Two sets of criteria are used to derive diagnosis of a personality disorder: impairments in personality (self and interpersonal)
functioning (criterion A) and the presence of pathological personality traits (criterion B).
Diagnoses for six personality disorder types (antisocial, avoidant, borderline, narcissistic, obsessive/compulsive, and schizotypal)
and a diagnosis for "personality disorder-trait specified" are described by a measure of level of impairment in personality
function and the presence of pathological personality traits. "Personality disorder-trait specified" replaces "personality
disorder not otherwise specified" and would be diagnosed if the patient did not fit one of the six personality disorder types
but still had a significant level of impairment and the presence of pathological personality traits. 