title: A Systematic Review of Personality Disorders and Health Outcomes.
abstract: Personality disorders have been associated with a wide swath of adverse health outcomes and correspondingly high costs to healthcare systems. To date, however, there has not been a systematic review of the literature on health conditions among individuals with personality disorders. The primary aim of this article is to review research documenting the associations between personality disorders and health conditions. A systematic review of the literature revealed 78 unique empirical English-language peer-reviewed articles examining the association of personality disorders and health outcomes over the past 15 years. Specifically, we reviewed research examining the association of personality disorders with sleep disturbance, obesity, pain conditions, and other chronic health conditions. In addition, we evaluated research on candidate mechanisms underlying health problems in personality disorders and potential treatments for such disorders. Results underscore numerous deleterious health outcomes associated with PD features and PD diagnoses, and suggest potential biological and behavioural factors that may account for these relations. Guidelines for future research in this area are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Amherst MA 01003; Tel: 413-545-0226; katiedg@psych.umass.edu.
authors.forename: Katherine L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Dixon-Gordon
authors.affiliation: Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Box 8511, St. Louis MO 63110; Tel: 314-286-2730; whalend@wustl.edu.
authors.forename: Diana J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Whalen
authors.affiliation: Simon Fraser University, Department of Psychology, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby BC V5A 1S6; Tel: 604-314-2762; blayden@sfu.ca ; alchapma@sfu.ca.
authors.forename: Brianne K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Layden
authors.affiliation: Simon Fraser University, Department of Psychology, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby BC V5A 1S6; Tel: 604-314-2762; blayden@sfu.ca ; alchapma@sfu.ca.
authors.forename: Alexander L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Chapman
keywords: Systematic review; medical conditions; personality disorders