The prevalence of personality disorder among UK primary care attenders.
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.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Moran
P
P
Section of Epidemiology and General Practice, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK.
Jenkins
R
R
Tylee
A
A
Blizard
R
R
Mann
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012494:Sampling Studies; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology