Personality disorders according to DSM-III-R and thrombocyte monoamine oxidase activity in type 1 and type 2 alcoholics.
OBJECTIVE
Several criteria used to distinguish type 2 alcoholics from Type 1 alcoholics, as well as the incidence of lower platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity in the former group, would indicate that personality disorders might be more common in Type 2 alcoholics. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relation between personality disorders, according to DSM-III-R, platelet MAO activity and Type 1/Type 2 alcoholism.


METHODS
The occurrence of personality disorders, according to DSM-III-R, was studied in a series of 34 male inpatients with alcohol dependence, subclassified into Type 1 (n = 18) and Type 2 (n = 16). Platelet MAO activity was studied in the same series of patients.


RESULTS
Patients with Type 2 alcoholism had significantly higher frequencies of self-defeating, schizotypal, antisocial and borderline personality disorders than Type 1 alcoholics. Patients with Type 2 alcoholism had significantly lower mean activity of platelet MAO than Type 1 alcoholics. No correlation was found between platelet MAO activity and personality disorders according to DSM-III-R.


CONCLUSIONS
Disorders of the antisocial personality and borderline personality types as well as low platelet MAO can all predict the occurrence of Type 2 alcoholism with rather high specificity but with a comparatively low degree of sensitivity.
Hallman
J
J
Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
von Knorring
L
L
Oreland
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology*; D015415:Biomarkers; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000097:blood*; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D015415:Biomarkers; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase