Blanco C, Wall MM, Hoertel N, et al. - Given an association of most psychiatric disorders, when examined individually, with a wide array of adverse outcomes, researchers assessed if specific psychiatric disorders, specific dimensions of psychopathology (ie, internalizing and externalizing dimensions), a general psychopathology factor, or a combination of these are related to the risk of adverse outcomes. Using structural equation modeling in the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, they examined the shared and specific effects of common Axis I and Axis II disorders ) in the general adult population on the risk of ten adverse outcomes (unemployment; financial crisis; low income; poorer general health; worse mental and physical health; legal problems; divorce; problems with a neighbor, friend, or relative; and violence). Independent of sociodemographic traits and the presence of adverse outcomes at baseline, psychiatric disorders exerted their effects generally through a general psychopathology factor representing the shared effect across all disorders. Further, there were associations of violence and legal problems with the externalizing factor, however, no independent associations of the internalizing factor or any individual psychiatric disorders with any of the adverse outcomes were observed. These findings suggest that broad psychological dimensions are involved in associations between psychiatric disorders and adverse outcomes.