Self-Reports, Spouse Ratings, and Psychophysiological Assessment in a Behavioral Medicine Program: An Application of the Five-Factor Model

This article describes the integration of the five-factor model into assessment procedures used with 109 patients in an outpatient behavioral medicine program. The population, program, assessment techniques, and general findings are explored. A case history involving a psychophysiological disorder is utilized to demonstrate the utility of a taxonomy of personality traits. The NEO-PI, a five-factor instrument, is integrated with other assessment techniques to assist in diagnosis, rapport building with the patient, tailoring treatment techniques and goals to the individual's intrapersonal and interpersonal dynamics, and predicting relative success and compliance with noninvasive self-regulation procedures and psychotherapy.