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The prevalence of personality disorder among UK primary care attenders
Author(s) -
Moran P.,
Jenkins R.,
Tylee A.,
Blizard R.,
Mann A.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0447.2000.102001052.x
Subject(s) - personality disorders , psychiatry , personality , prevalence of mental disorders , medicine , clinical psychology , psychology , mental health , social psychology
Objective: To determine the prevalence rate of personality disorder among a consecutive sample of UK primary care attenders. Associations between a diagnosis of personality disorder, sociodemographic background and common mental disorder were examined. Method: Three hundred and three consecutive primary care attenders were examined for the presence of ICD‐10 and DSM‐4 personality disorders using an informant‐based interview. Results: Personality disorder was diagnosed in 24% (95% CI: 19–29) of the sample. Personality‐disordered subjects were more likely to have psychiatric morbidity as indicated by GHQ‐12, to report previous psychological morbidity, to be single and to attend the surgery on an emergency basis. ‘Cluster B’ personality disorders were particularly associated with psychiatric morbidity. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence rate of personality disorders among primary care attenders. These disorders are associated with the presence of common mental disorder and unplanned surgery attendance. Personality disorders may represent a significant source of burden in primary care.