The five-factor model of personality and treatment utilization: an exploratory analysis of patients with personality disorders

Abstract

In this era of managed health care, it has become increasingly important for the field of clinical psychology to examine the utilization and costs of mental health services in an attempt to optimally allocate mental health treatments for various psychological diagnoses and other clinical problems. Recently, some researchers have argued that the variability found among the results of treatment outcome studies points to the influence of other extradiagnostic variables on treatment participation. Although empirical support is scarce, a number of researchers have advocated the promise of the five-factor model of personality for optimal treatment planning and allocation. An exploration of the treatment resources used by patients and their relation to the five factors may provide useful information for the purpose of allocating these resources and planning intervention strategies in the future. This study examined the relationship between the five-factor model of personality and mental health treatment utilization for a large sample of personality disorder patients and a sample of patients diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder. Results revealed numerous relationships between the five-factor model and mental health treatment utilization and suggestions are made for the potential use of these findings. Also, the limitations of this study are presented and discussed.