title: Prevalence and correlates of personality disorder in the Jamaican population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the prevalence and correlates of personality disorder in a representative sample of the Jamaican population using the Jamaica Personality Disorder Inventory (JPDI).
  
  
  METHODS
  A four-stage stratified random sampling method was used to obtain a representative population sample consisting of 1506 Jamaicans, M:F = 727 (48.3%):779 (51.7%), ages 18-64 years. A demographic questionnaire and the JPDI were administered to all participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two-fifths of the population (41.4%) scored above the scale's cut-point indicating a diagnosis of personality disorder with the level of severity ranging from mild to severe. Persons with personality disorder were significantly more likely to be single (63%), male (60%), between the ages 18 and 44 years (77%) and of a lower socio-economic status (65%) (p < 0.50 to p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the only population study of personality disorder recorded in the English-speaking Caribbean. This suggests a high risk of behavioural dysfunction in the Jamaican population, having significant implications in light of the country's high rate of crime and violence. The findings highlight the need to develop effective and targeted prevention and intervention measures.
authors.affiliation: Caribbean Institute of Mental Health and Substance Abuse (CARIMENSA), Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Kingston 7, Jamaica. frederick.hickling@uwimona.edu.jm; fred@fredhickling.com.
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Hickling
authors.affiliation: South East Regional Health Authority, Kingston and St Andrew Public Health Service, 1 Marescaux Road, Kingston 5, Jamaica and Department of Community of Health and Psychiatry, The University of the West Indies, Kingston 7, Jamaica.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Walcott
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007563:Jamaica / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires