Personality disorders and nonfatal unintentional injuries among US adults.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between personality disorders and nonfatal unintentional injuries in a representative sample of US adults.


METHODS
Data on self-reported nonfatal unintentional injuries during the 12 months before the interview were obtained from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) were analyzed; 43,093 adults > or = 18 years participated in the NESARC wave I survey in 2001-02. Personality disorders were determined using the NIAAA Alcohol Use Disorders and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule-DSM-IV.


RESULTS
Individuals with at least one personality disorder had a significantly higher 12-month incidence of injuries than people without any personality disorder (p<0.001). After accounting for sociodemographic characteristics or other mental disorders, OR was 1.54 (95% CI 1.39 to 1.71) for individuals with one personality disorder and 1.80 (95% CI 1.58 to 2.05) for individuals with two or more personality disorders compared with people with no personality disorder.


CONCLUSIONS
Personality disorders were associated with a significantly increased risk of unintentional injuries. This information has important implications for the treatment of patients with these disorders.
Center for Injury Research and Policy, Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, College of Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43205, USA.
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Chen
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Sinclair
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Smith
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Kelleher
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Pajer
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Gardner
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Xiang
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology