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

Prevalence and sociodemographic characteristics of DSM-IV and ICD-10 defined personality disorders were examined in a Swedish community sample. Data were obtained by means of the DSM-IV and ICD-10 personality questionnaire (DIP-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 were common. Prevalence similarities between DSM and ICD definitions were obtained for paranoid, schizotypal, borderline/emotionally unstable, histrionic, avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive/anancastic but not schizoid and antisocial/dissocial personality disorders. Personality disorders were 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 support. In addition, they reported significantly more psychosocial and environmental problems in the past year. Thus, personality disorders are relatively common in the community and affected individuals are more impaired than subjects without personality disorders.