The Samuel Assessment Methods for Personality and Psychopathology Lab within the Department of Psychological Sciences at Purdue University is focused on using dimensional trait models to improve the conceptualization and assessment of personality disorders (PDs). For example, existing research suggests that the Five-Factor Model (FFM; or Big Five) provides a reasonably comprehensive framework for describing normal personality functioning. Our work seeks to translate and apply these basic science findings to improve the understanding and treatment of personality pathology.

The implementation of a dimensional model holds the promise of eliminating some of the historical difficulties of the personality disorder categories (i.e., excessive diagnostic co-occurrence) and instead building upon the foundation of basic science by linking clinical syndromes with general personality research. Within this context, our research interests fall within three related lines of inquiry:

1) Assessing personality pathology and its relationship to general personality

2) Determining the boundary between adaptive and maladaptive levels of personality traits

3) Investigating how practicing clinicians use dimensional models in their practice

A relatively newer line of research in our lab seeks investigates rural mental health and specifically the unique risk factor for suicide among farmers. Within this frame we have:

1) Examined the prevalance of suicidal ideation and other known risk factors for suicide among Indiana farmers

2) Developed a measure of Agricultural Heritage that we hypothesize captures a unique risk factor for farmers.