Relationships between personality disorders and anthropometry, hormones and metabolism in women

This study sought to examine the potential influence of personality disorde rs (PD) on anthropometry, hormones and metabolism in women. In a population sample of women born in 1956 (no.=270), estimates of PD:s by Structured Cl inical Interview for DSM-III-R, Axis II, were correlated with anthropometri c, endocrine, and metabolic factors. The PD:s were grouped into three thema tic clusters: cluster A (characterized by oddness or eccentricity), cluster B (characterized by self-centeredness, emotionality, and erratic behavior) and cluster C (characterized by anxiety and fear). Subjects with cluster A PD:s had significantly increased body mass index (BMI, kg/m(2)) and abdomi nal sagittal diameter (cm) as well as lower salivary cortisol after dexamet hasone (DEX) compared to controls. Subjects with cluster B also had a signi ficantly higher abdominal sagittal diameter and significantly lower salivar y cortisol levels after DEX than controls. In addition, subjects with clust er B PD:s had decreased levels of ACTH, and significantly higher concentrat ions of lactate and triglycerides, while high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cho lesterol was significantly lower compared to controls. A significantly high er waist/hip ratio was seen among subjects with cluster C PD:s. In addition , these subjects had higher levels of insulin, glucose, lactate, triglyceri des, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol than c ontrols. Moreover, IGF-I and HDL cholesterol were significantly decreased i n the former group. These results suggest that PD:s are involved in the dev elopment of obesity and abdominal fat accumulation in women, with different endocrine and metabolic profiles depending on the type of PD.