Personality disorders associated with full and partial posttraumatic stress disorder in the U.S. population: results from Wave 2 of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions

J Psychiatr Res. 2011 May;45(5):678-86. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2010.09.013. Epub 2010 Oct 15.

Abstract

Background: While it is well known that personality disorders are associated with trauma exposure and PTSD, limited nationally representative data are available on DSM-IV personality disorders that co-occur with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and partial PTSD.

Methods: Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 34,653 adults participating in the Wave 2 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Logistic regression analyses controlling for sociodemographics and additional psychiatric comorbidity evaluated associations of PTSD and partial PTSD with personality disorders.

Results: Prevalence rates of lifetime PTSD and partial PTSD were 6.4% and 6.6%, respectively. After adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics and additional psychiatric comorbidity, respondents with full PTSD were more likely than trauma controls to meet criteria for schizotypal, narcissistic, and borderline personality disorders (ORs = 2.1-2.5); and respondents with partial PTSD were more likely than trauma controls to meet diagnostic criteria for borderline (OR = 2.0), schizotypal (OR = 1.8), and narcissistic (OR = 1.6) PDs. Women with PTSD were more likely than controls to have obsessive-compulsive PD. Women with partial PTSD were more likely than controls to have antisocial PD; and men with partial PTSD were less likely than women with partial PTSD to have avoidant PD.

Conclusions: PTSD and partial PTSD are associated with borderline, schizotypal, and narcissistic personality disorders. Modestly higher rates of obsessive-compulsive PD were observed among women with full PTSD, and of antisocial PD among women with partial PTSD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Comorbidity
  • Disability Evaluation
  • Epidemiologic Studies
  • Female
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Personality Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Prevalence
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / epidemiology*
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Young Adult