This study investigated assumptions made by DSM-III and DSM-III-R regarding Axis I-Axis II associations and sex differences for the 11 personality disorders (PD). A total of 112 patients formed 4 Axis I diagnostic groups: recent-onset schizophrenia (n = 35); recent-onset mania (n = 26); unipolar affective disorder (n = 30); and a mixed diagnostic group (n = 21). The prevalence of PD was determined using the Structured Interview for DSM-III Personality Disorders (SIDP). Schizophrenia was associated with antisocial PD and schizotypal PD; manic disorder was associated with histrionic PD; and unipolar affective disorder was associated with borderline, dependent and avoidant PD. Some of these results were consistent with DSM-III/DSM-III-R postulates. However, there was little support for the DSM-III/DSM-III-R statements on sex differences in the prevalence of PD, except for antisocial PD. The implications of the results for DSM-III/DSM-III-R assumptions are discussed.

The standardised criteria for DSM-III personality disorders encouraged the development of numerous multidimensional instruments to make the diagnosis of such disorders more objective and reliable compared with clinical judgement. Yet, there is no published research on the concordance between these instruments when used with psychiatric inpatients. Two such measures, the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) and the Structured Interview for DSM-III Personality (SIDP), were chosen for this study. The MCMI identified a significantly greater number of personality disorders than the SIDP for each subject. Despite overall high interrater reliability with the SIDP, low agreement was found between the two instruments for most of the 11 DSM-III Axis II (personality disorders) categories. Different normative populations on which the instruments were developed, method variance, and theoretical differences between Millon and DSM-III, were all likely to contribute to the low concordance. Systematic research of possible confounding factors is suggested.

The present investigation examined the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI-I) personality disorder (PD) diagnostic categories and personality disorder dimensional (BR) scores in 87 patients, to evaluate Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (Third Editioflevised) (DSM-III/R) statements as regards Axis l/Axis II associations and PD sex differences. Patients formed three clearly diagnosed Axis I groups: a schizophrenic group (n = 35); an affective group (n = 30); and a mixed group who were given a range of nonaffective. nonschizophrenic diagnoses (n = 22). Using the MCMI-I, PD scores were compared across the three groups. The strongest results in line with DSM-IIT/R statements were that the affective group was much more likely than the remaining two groups to obtain borderline PD diagnoses, and females were significantly more likely to obtain a borderline diagnosis. Contrary to DSM-ID/R statements, the schizophrenic group did not obtain greater proportions of schizoid, schizotypal, or paranoid PDs. compared to the other two Axis I groups. Issues pertaining to the validity of the MCMI-I are raised, and the possible impact on results are discussed.