right. so it seems that one important feature of a definition of mental disorder is that the prevalence rates work out right. (you don't want to define it such that nobody meets it or such that everybody meets it)

the trouble is...

can they have their cake (the prevalence about right)

and eat it too (have the definition of a personality disorder that they attempt to offer)

i guess i'm fond of a dimensional approach (to do with severity) but it is unclear you can have a conception of a personality disorder as a inner dysfunction kind of thing as surely inner dysfunctions would be categorical?

(so much the worse for the notion of dysfunction IMHO).

i'm really very interested in something you said in general about disorder being different from illness. i'd be interested to know what you mean by that 'cause i'm looking at those notions at the moment...