Axis II in DSM-IV versus the Five Factor Model
While it is true that both Axis II in DSM-IV and the Five Factor Model measure similar constructs, the main focus being one’s personality, they tend to investigate different aspects of personality. The use of DSM-IV and Axis II implicates the diagnosis of a particular personality disorder. Axis II has no interest in studying healthy individuals. Its main focus is identifying the real rigid traits that do not allow ‘normal’ functioning in life. DSM-IV, as a whole, provides the tools and the perspective required to diagnose psychological disorders, but it is not adapted to describing the wide spectrum of traits and qualities of a ‘healthy personality’.
The Five Factor Model, on the other hand, attempts to recognize and analyze all of the major traits that build up a person. This model is equally interested in studying healthy individuals as well as personality disorders (which is by no means the case with DSM-IV).
Axis II in DSM-IV provides a very detailed description of the disorders and informs abut their specific coding. The specific checkpoints and guidance make a diagnosis easier and, allegedly, more accurate.
The Five Factor model certainly has many advantages, as it is the one inventory that provides a full, very specific and realistic description of a personality, with all its nuances. Based on this description of traits, a lot can be effectively predicted about the behavior of the individual. The Five Factor Model is not limited to psychopathology, but investigates the whole continuum of a trait and so, sees subjects in every part of the belt curve. As the model is very precise in describing the big five traits (Openness, Conscientiousness, Extaversion, Agreeableness and Neuroticism), it can be of great help in therapeutic setting, revealing the areas that need ‘improvement’. After all, this is the most important part of any helping profession – how exactly do we help the individual? Not to underestimate, the Five Factor Model has an enormous body or research behind it, which has proven it is both a valid and reliable technique.