Am J Psychiatry 1992; 149:1228-1233
Copyright © 1992 by American Psychiatric Association
The relationship between personality and DSM-III axis I disorders in the population: results from an epidemiological survey
G Nestadt, AJ Romanoski, JF Samuels, MF Folstein and PR McHugh
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the relationships between
specific personality disorders and DSM-III axis I conditions in a community
sample. METHOD: A total of 810 subjects were examined by psychiatrists in
the second stage of the Eastern Baltimore Mental Health Survey, part of the
Epidemiological Catchment Area Program of the National Institute of Mental
Health. A semistructured examination, the Standardized Psychiatric
Examination, was employed to assess axis I and axis II conditions. Scales
for compulsive and antisocial personality disorders were derived from
DSM-III criteria. The relationships between scores on these personality
disorder scales and the presence of generalized anxiety disorder, alcohol
use disorders (alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence), and simple phobia
were evaluated by using logistic regression. RESULTS: Higher compulsive
personality scores were associated with a greater odds of generalized
anxiety disorder and simple phobia but a smaller odds of alcohol use
disorders. In contrast, higher antisocial personality scores were
associated with a greater odds of alcohol use disorders but a smaller odds
of generalized anxiety disorder. There was no relationship between
antisocial personality scores and simple phobia. CONCLUSIONS: Personality
disorders have specific relationships to axis I conditions, which suggests
different vulnerabilities but also different protective influences.
