The Prevalence of Personality Disorders in the Greater-Reykjavik Area

The prevalence of personality disorders vas estimated in a sample of 805 individuals randomly selected from the greater Reykjavik area. The sample consisted of 3 equally large cohorts of persons born in 1931, 1951 and 1971. The individuals were asked to participate in a survey of mental health. Of those contacted, 52% of the total group participated. The instrument used for estimating personality disorders was the DIP-Q. The results show that the overall percentage with any disorder was 11% according to DSM-IV and 12% according to ICD-10. The most frequent disorder of the whole group, according to DSM-IV criteria, was obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (7.3%) and schizotypal personality disorder according to ICD-10 criteria, which was to be found in 9% of the group. Other disorders were less frequently found. Comorbidity was high among those with a personality disorder. Of those with disorders according to DSM-IV, 67% had more than one disorder. Similarly, according to the ICD criteria, comorbidity was to be found in 80% of the sample. Among women, anxious/avoidant personality disorder was the most common, with the highest sub-group prevalence found among those born in 1971. Similarly, among the men, schizotypal personality disorder was the most common, and most commonly found in the 1971 age group.