The authors studied the relationship between DSM-III axis I and axis II
diagnoses in 2,462 medical center patients. Personality disorders were most
commonly associated with substance use disorders and with the anxiety and
somatoform disorders traditionally classified as neuroses. There was a
particularly strong connection between antisocial personality disorder and
substance abuse. The psychotic and major affective illnesses were
significantly less often associated with personality disorders. The results
of this study suggest a need for refining the criteria for several DSM-III
categories. Overall, the separate personality disorder axis in the DSM-III
system provides information not contained with the syndromal classification
alone.
Abstract Teaser