The relationship of DSM diagnostic criteria and Gough's Prejudice Scale: exploring the clinical manifestations of the prejudiced personality.

The relationship of psychopathology, symptoms of personality disorder, and outgroup prejudice was examined with 193 outpatient psychotherapy clients. Primary DSM-IV diagnosis, General Adaptive Functioning (GAF) scores, personality disorder criteria, and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) scale scores were examined in relationship to Pr (Prejudice) Scale scores and client outgroup attributions. Results of a 3 x 10 Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) indicated that clinician ratings of outgroup bias were significantly related with the Axis II criteria for Paranoid, Borderline, and Antisocial disorders. MANOVA results for ratings of outgroup bias and MMPI scores did not yield a significant multivariate effect; however, significant univariate ANOVA results were found with the MMPI F, HS, PD, and MA scales. Computed univariate ANOVA results indicated that Pr Scale scores did not significantly vary between primary Axis I and Axis II DSM-IV diagnosis, but did yield a significant difference for (categorical) diagnosis by Axis II Cluster groups. Both Pr Scale scores and clinician ratings of client outgroup bias were significantly related to greater psychopathology, as reflected by lower GAF scores assigned at the initiation of treatment. Findings provide preliminary evidence of the relationship of traits of personality disorder, as characterized by impulsivity, relational disturbance, and affective lability, to outgroup prejudice with a clinical population.