[An observational study evaluating comorbidity between bipolar disorder and personality disorders].
OBJECTIVE
In literature there are a few studies evaluating comorbidity between bipolar disorder (type I, II and cyclothymic ) and personality disorders. Aim of the current study is to deepen the existing comorbidity between Axis II and the three subtypes of bipolar disorder.


METHODS
At the Psychiatry Day Hospital of Gemelli Polyclinic seventy patients with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder (type I, II and cyclothymic ) were enrolled. Axis I diagnosis was defined by the SCID-I. Axis II diagnosis was made by the SCID-II.


RESULTS
Of seventy patients in euthymic state, thirty-nine patients (55.7%) show comorbidity with Axis II. The different clusters are such represented: two patients (5.1%) are part of cluster A, twenty-four patients (61.5%) of cluster B, nine patients (23%) of cluster C, and four patients (10.4%) have Not Otherwise Specified personality disorder. On the whole thirty-nine patients whereof twenty-four (61.5%) with bipolar disorder type I, six (15.3%) with bipolar disorder type II and nine patients (23.0%) with cyclothymic disorder show comorbidity for a Axis II disorder. It must be observed that, in our sample, the comorbidity between cyclothymic and personality disorder is significant.


CONCLUSIONS
In our sample more than half of the patients (55.7%) show a comorbidity for a Axis II disorder. Most of the patients present a Cluster B personality disorder and even cyclothymic patients in 23% of cases have comorbidity with Axis II disorders.
Harnic
D
D
Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Universitattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italia.
Catalano
V
V
Mazza
M
M
Janiri
L
L
Bria
P
P
D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D015897:Comorbidity; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012384:Rome / Q000453:epidemiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index