A cross sectional study on prevalence and pattern of personality disorders in psychiatric inpatients of a tertiary care hospital

Background: Co-occurrence of personality disorders with other psychiatric disorders has also been well documented by many researchers in the past. Diagnosing co occurring personality disorders in psychiatric patients with is of strong clinical significance, considering their association with the duration, recurrence, and outcome of these disorders. They also can have wide range of other adverse health outcomes. However, most of the existing literature regarding the studies related to personality disorders (PDs) in India is confined to community and mental hospitals. Aim: To study the prevalence and factors affecting personality disorders in a general hospital psychiatry unit. Materials and methods: The study was a cross sectional study conducted in a psychiatric unit of a tertiary care teaching hospital in south India. ICD-10, Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV Personality Disorders (SCID-II) were used. Results: A total of 116 participants were included in the study. Majority of the participants were between 26 to 45 years of age. The prevalence of personality disorder was 21.55% (95%CI 14.07 to 29.03) among the study population. The most common type of personality disorder was avoidance (7.7%), followed by anti social (5.17%) and borderline (3.45%) personality disorders. Highest proportion of PD was seen in people with major depressive disorder (35.7%), followed by people with multiple psychiatric illness (31.6%) and Psychotic disorders/mood disorders with psychosis (18.9%). Conclusion: The proportion of personality disorders was highest in 26 to 35 year age group, was higher in males, compared to females. People who studied up to primary school had higher proportion of PD, compared to other educational categories. The proportion was higher in people belonging to higher socio economic strata, people who are separated and people from nuclear family.