Personality disorders among psychiatric inpatients

Abstract

The Present study reports on multiaxial diagnoses in accordance with DSM-III in psychiatri inpatients with special reference to personality disorders. Four hundred and eleven consecutive psychiatric inpatients treated in a catchment area clinic in northern Sweden in 1987-88 were studied with complete multiaxial diagnostic ratings in accordance with DSM-III and chart information. One hundred and forty-four patients (35%) received a diagnosis of personality disorder, of whom 90% had a concomitant axis-I disorder. Dysthymic and anxiety disorders were highly overrepresented. The most prevalent personality disorder was schizotypal personality, followed by atypical, borderline, and dependent personality disorders. Women were more likely to have a personality disorder and were overrepresented among dependent, histrionic, and borderline personality disorders. Mean score on axis IV and axis V of patients with personality disorders were 3.2 and 3.9, respectively with no significant sex differences. Patients with dependent and histrionic personality disorder scored significantly higher with regard to psychosocial stressors. Patients with paranoid personality disorders had a significantly lower adaptive level of functioning. The overall prevalence of axis-II disorders equals previous estimates. The high prevalence of atypical personality disorder illustrates coverage problems of axis II. Female dominance in general and in dependent personality disorder in particular point to the possibility of sex bias. The association between anxiety and dysthymic disorders and personality disorders might reflect a state versus trait bias.

Key Words:

• DSM-III
• Multiple diagnoses
• Personality disorders
• Psychiatric inpatients
• Statu'trait