Research on the Alternative Model for Personality Disorders (AMPD) in Iran: A Narrative Literature Review

Background: Many original studies have evaluated the validity and utility of the Alternative Model for Personality Disorders (AMPD) in Iran. However, the present review is a unique attempt to summarize the data in a critical framework to cover gaps in the AMPD research and determine future directions. The review aimed to explore the psychometric evidence for the AMPD, including reliability (alpha coefficient) and validity (construct, convergent, criterion, and incremental types) data in Iran. We also reviewed the overlap between the two AMPD criteria and the associations between the constructs and general psychopathology. Methods: We searched PubMed, PsycNet, Google Scholar, and three national databases for English and Persian records related to the AMPD from January 2013 to 2023. Several keywords and criteria were applied to select studies before summarizing the data. Results: The self-report scales were the first-line measures to assess the AMPD constructs, while interviews were rarely used. The research body provided relative support for both the unidimensional nature of Criterion A measures and the five-factor structure of Criterion B measures. Regarding Criterion B, however, there are still questions about the validity of the disinhibition factor and its clinical utility and generalizability. Conclusion: Although a decade of research on the AMPD in Iran has contributed to improving our knowledge, the current review provided a more comprehensive and clear profile of this model’s validity and generalizability to Iranian culture. We discussed the details of validation studies, limitations, and future considerations.