Personality disorders in addiction outpatients: prevalence and effects on psychosocial functioning.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prevalence of personality disorders (PDs) in the outpatients attending an addiction service, with particular attention to the effects of PDs on social and occupational functioning and on the intensity of treatment required.


METHODS
A cross-sectional epidemiological study with the assessment of 320 outpatients, through SCID-II (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II PDs), SOGS (South Oaks Gambling Screen), and questionnaire extracted from EuropASI.


RESULTS
The percentage prevalence of PDs was 62.2% (confidence interval at 95% (95% CI): 57-68). PDs were positively associated with placement in an addiction treatment community (odds ratio (OR) = 2.98, CI = 1.77-5.03), having received lifetime treatment at the mental health center (MHC) (OR = 3.67, CI = 1.67-8.07) or having attempted suicide (OR = 2.30, CI = 1.05-5.02). Furthermore, PDs were related to a reduced probability of keeping a job (OR = 0.54, CI = 0.31-0.95) or starting a family (OR = 0.51, CI = 0.30-0.87).


CONCLUSIONS
Axis II comorbidity occurs in 62% of addiction outpatients and has substantial effects on social and occupational functioning as well as on treatment programs.
Mental Health and Pathological Addictions Department of Ravenna, Mental Health Center of Faenza, Italy.
Paola
P
Casadio
Mental Health and Pathological Addictions Department of Ravenna, Pathological Addictions of Faenza, Italy.
Deanna
D
Olivoni
Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences-Psychiatry, Bologna University, Italy.
Barbara
B
Ferrari
Mental Health and Pathological Addictions Department of Ravenna, Pathological Addictions of Faenza, Italy.
Cecilia
C
Pintori
Mental Health and Pathological Addictions Department of Ravenna, Pathological Addictions of Faenza, Italy.
Elvira
E
Speranza
Mental Health and Pathological Addictions Department of Ravenna, Pathological Addictions of Faenza, Italy.
Monica
M
Bosi
Mental Health and Pathological Addictions Department of Ravenna, Pathological Addictions of Faenza, Italy.
Valentina
V
Belli
Mental Health and Pathological Addictions Department of Ravenna, Pathological Addictions of Faenza, Italy.
Lucia
L
Baruzzi
Mental Health and Pathological Addictions Department of Ravenna, Pathological Addictions of Faenza, Italy.
Paola
P
Pantieri
Mental Health and Pathological Addictions Department of Ravenna, Pathological Addictions of Faenza, Italy.
Grazia
G
Ragazzini
Mental Health and Pathological Addictions Department of Ravenna, Pathological Addictions of Faenza, Italy.
Filippo
F
Rivola
Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences-Psychiatry, Bologna University, Italy.
Anna Rita
AR
Atti
addiction; dual diagnosis; outpatients; personality disorders; prevalence; social functioning