Bipolar disorder and comorbid personality psychopathology: a review of the literature.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the prevalence of personality disorder comorbidity in bipolar disorder and examine the effects of this comorbidity on bipolar disorder patients.


METHODS
All the studies reviewed were found through an online literature search through the Web site PubMed. The studies were published between 1980 and 2006. The following keywords were used to search articles: bipolar, mania, mood, personality, Axis II, borderline, and lithium. Only articles in English were included in this literature review.


METHODS
A total of 32 studies that reported data on the prevalence and effect of comorbid personality disorders or abnormal personality traits in bipolar disorder patients were reviewed.


METHODS
The data abstracted from the prevalence studies included sample size, mood state of the study population, research instruments used to determine personality psychopathology, prevalence rates of personality disorders, and abnormalities. Other data collected included response to medications and course of illness.


RESULTS
The prevalence studies were categorized into outpatient and inpatient studies to facilitate data analysis. The prevalence studies were also analyzed according to the research instrument used to measure personality pathology. Studies that used non-DSM personality measures were analyzed separately.


CONCLUSIONS
Bipolar disorder patients have significantly higher prevalence of personality disorder than the general population. Several studies reviewed indicate a higher prevalence of Axis II disorders in bipolar patients with unstable mood. However, this finding was not confirmed in comparison of inpatient and outpatient comorbidity rates. Bipolar patients with personality psychopathology have poorer response to medications and a more virulent course of illness.
Fan
Alexander H
AH
Department of Psychiatry, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA. fana@cshs.org
Hassell
Joseph
J
D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018020:Lithium Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010045:Outpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018692:Antimanic Agents; D018020:Lithium Compounds