Prevalence of DSM-IV personality disorders in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: a controlled study.
BACKGROUND
It is not yet clear whether chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is associated with elevated levels of personality disorders.


OBJECTIVE
This study aims to determine the prevalence of DSM-IV axis II personality disorders among patients with CFS.


METHODS
We examined the prevalence of personality disorders in a sample of 92 female CFS patients and in two well-matched control groups, i.e., normal community individuals (N = 92) and psychiatric patients (N = 92). Participants completed the assessment of DSM-IV personality disorders questionnaire (ADP-IV), which yields a categorical and dimensional evaluation of personality disorder features.


RESULTS
The prevalence of personality disorders in CFS patients (16.3 %) was significantly lower than in psychiatric patients (58.7 %) and was similar to that in the community sample (16.3 %). Similar results were found for dimensional and pseudodimensional scores, except for the Depressive (DE) and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (O-C) subscales. Patients with CFS had significantly higher levels of DE features compared to normal controls and similar dimensional scores on the O-C scale compared to psychiatric controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the CFS sample was characterized by depressive and obsessive-compulsive personality features, this study provides no evidence for the assumption that these patients generally show a higher prevalence of axis II pathology. Given the conflicting findings in this area, future studies using multiple measures to assess personality disorders in CFS are needed to substantiate these findings.
Department of Psychology, University of Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, Leuven, Belgium. Stefan.Kempke@ppw.kuleuven.be
Stefan
S
Kempke
Filip
F
Van Den Eede
Chris
C
Schotte
Stephan
S
Claes
Peter
P
Van Wambeke
Boudewijn
B
Van Houdenhove
Patrick
P
Luyten
D000328:Adult; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult