title: Occurrence and effects of personality disorders in depression: are they the same in the old and young?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the frequency and effects of personality disorders on episodes of depression in elderly and young inpatients. Personality disorders are common and may affect the prognosis of Axis I disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical records of 89 elderly inpatients and a matched comparison group of 119 young inpatients were reviewed to confirm the diagnosis of a major depressive episode according to the DSM-III-R criteria. The frequency of personality disorder diagnoses in the 2 groups was determined. Within each group, severity, functioning, and treatment were compared between those with and without personality disorders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Personality disorders were diagnosed more frequently in the young (40.3%) than in the elderly (27%). Both rates were similar to previous reports. Cluster C disorders were the most common personality disorders found in the elderly, compared to cluster B disorders in the young. Personality disorder in the young was associated with longer episodes of depression (P = 0.035) and poorer family relations (P < 0.001); whereas in the elderly, personality disorder was associated with more severe episodes (P = 0.014).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that the frequency and effects of personality disorders on the depressed patient may differ according to age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Agbayewa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012189:Retrospective Studies