Personality Disorders and Sense of Purpose

A characterizing feature of many forms of psychopathology is a loss or absence of goal-directed behavior and/or a sense of direction in life, both of which are key components of sense of purpose. While prior research has identified sense of purpose as a protective factor for mental health more broadly, less is known about the relationship between personality disorders (PDs) and sense of purpose. This study aims to examine the relationships between ten DSM-IV PDs and sense of purpose. We will also examine associations between two other forms of psychopathology (depressive symptoms and alcohol dependence) and sense of purpose.