Refers to a pervasive, persistent, relatively inflexible personality trait that leads to functional impairment or subjective distress.
The pattern in question should be stable across a broad range of situations, be established by early adulthood.
An individual may exhibit a grouping of traits related to a particular cluster of personality disorders without fully meeting any specific diagnosis.
Clinicians may simply list such personality traits on Axis II, particularly if their presence is deemed to have relevance to treating a coexisting Axis I disorder.