title: Physical health comorbidities in women with personality disorder: Data from the Geelong Osteoporosis Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Associations between common psychiatric disorders, psychotic disorders and physical health comorbidities are frequently investigated. The complex relationship between personality disorders (PDs) and physical health is less understood, and findings to date are varied. This study aims to investigate associations between PDs with a number of prevalent physical health conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study examined data collected from women (n=765;≥ 25 years) participating in a population-based study located in south-eastern Australia. Lifetime history of psychiatric disorders was assessed using the semi-structured clinical interviews (SCID-I/NP and SCID-II). The presence of physical health conditions (lifetime) were identified via a combination of self-report, medical records, medication use and clinical data. Socioeconomic status, and information regarding medication use, lifestyle behaviors, and sociodemographic information was collected via questionnaires. Logistic regression models were used to investigate associations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjustment for sociodemographic variables (age, socioeconomic status) and health-related factors (body mass index, physical activity, smoking, psychotropic medication use), PDs were consistently associated with a range of physical health conditions. Novel associations were observed between Cluster A PDs and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD); Cluster B PDs with syncope and seizures, as well as arthritis; and Cluster C PDs with GORD and recurrent headaches.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PDs were associated with physical comorbidity. The current data contribute to a growing evidence base demonstrating associations between PDs and a number of physical health conditions independent of psychiatric comorbidity, sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. Longitudinal studies are now required to investigate causal pathways, as are studies determining pathological mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Deakin University, IMPACT Strategic Research Centre, School of Medicine, Geelong, Australia. Electronic address: shae.quirk@barwonhealth.org.au.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Quirk
authors.affiliation: Deakin University, IMPACT Strategic Research Centre, School of Medicine, Geelong, Australia.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Stuart
authors.affiliation: Deakin University, IMPACT Strategic Research Centre, School of Medicine, Geelong, Australia; Institute of Health and Ageing, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Brennan-Olsen
authors.affiliation: Deakin University, IMPACT Strategic Research Centre, School of Medicine, Geelong, Australia; Melbourne Medical School-Western Campus, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pasco
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Orygen, the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Melbourne, Australia & Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Barwon Health and the Geelong Clinic, Swanston Centre, Geelong, Australia; Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berk
authors.affiliation: Orygen, the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Melbourne, Australia & Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Chanen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland (UEF), Kuopio, Finland; Departments of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio; South-Savonia Hospital District, Mikkeli; North Karelia Central Hospital, Joensuu; SOSTERI, Savonlinna; SOTE, Iisalmi; Lapland Hospital District, Rovaniemi, Finland; Clinic of Child Psychiatry, University Hospital of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koivumaa-Honkanen
authors.affiliation: Melbourne Medical School-Western Campus, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kotowicz
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UEF, Kuopio, Finland; Bone and Cartilage Research Unit, Surgery, Institute of Clinical Medicine, UEF, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Lukkala
authors.affiliation: Deakin University, IMPACT Strategic Research Centre, School of Medicine, Geelong, Australia.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Comorbidity; Epidemiology; Medical morbidity; Personality disorder; Physical health conditions