Personality Disorder Prevalence and Treatment Outcomes: A Literature Review

Abstract

Personality disorder is argued to be the most prevalent psychiatric disorder and is considered to be a significant public health burden, yet there is little evidence that the disorder occupies a commensurate place in public health service planning, appropriate to such a burden. This paper reviews the prevalence and treatment outcome studies of individuals with personality disorder. The literature search highlighted prevalence studies and evidence based pharmacological, psychosocial, and alliance based interventions within this area. From this review, the place of mental health nurses within health service models is discussed.