Personality disorders in the general population: DSM-IV and ICD-10 definedprevalence as related to sociodemographic profile

Prevalence and sociodemographic characteristics of DSM-IV and ICD-IO define d personality disorders were examined in a Swedish community sample. Data w ere obtained by means of the DSM-IV and ICD-10 personality questionnaire (D IP-Q) postal survey administered to 1000 randomly selected adults from the Isle of Gotland. A total of 557 individuals responded to the questionnaire. The prevalence of any ICD-10 defined personality disorder was 11.0% and 11 .1% when using DSM-IV criteria. Comorbidity between personality disorders w ere common. Prevalence similarities between DSM and ICD definitions were ob tained for paranoid, schizotypal, borderline/emotionally unstable, histrion ic, avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive/anancastic but not schizo id and antisocial/dissocial personality disorders. Personality disorders we re significantly more often diagnosed in the younger subjects, students and unemployed/homemakers had the highest rates. Individuals with personality disorders more often received psychiatric treatment and lacked social suppo rt. In addition, they reported significantly more psychosocial and environm ental problems in the past year. Thus, personality disorders are relatively common in the community and affected individuals are more impaired than su bjects without personality disorders. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All ri ghts reserved.