Psychological distress and functional impairment in patients with personality disorders

Abstract

The study is aimed at investigating the impact of a personality disorder (PD) diagnosis, in terms of functional impairment and subjective distress, in order to better understand the burden of this diagnosis and its implications. Among the 462 consecutive psychiatric patients diagnosed with the DSM structured interview for Axis I, II and V diagnoses, almost 60% had PD. Patients with PD displayed considerable vulnerability and suffering in many domains, including finances and interpersonal relationships. Despite the educational and occupational similarities of PD patients and non-PD patients, the PD patients had more problems maintaining permanent job positions. They also had more symptomatic suffering and concerns about health than non-PD patients. Generally, the results were in line with findings in the literature but more thoroughly captured the challenges that PD patients face in various areas of life. Awareness of the frequent comorbidity of PD with Axis I disorders seems crucial in developing future treatment plans with an emphasis on psychosocial rehabilitation, vocational training and social support.

Impact of personality disorders on health-related quality of life one year after burn injury

“…This was contradictory to previous studies identifying impaired quality of life in individuals with PDs compared to control individuals without PDs [3][4][5][6][7]57]. Based on these studies, our hypothesis was that the presence of a PD, with subsequent functional impairment, would influence adaptation and recovery after major burn assessed as HRQoL at one year post burn.…”

Unemployed and poor in New York: The impact of mentalization and Axis II psychopathology on job outcome

“…Research indicates that personality-disordered individuals are more likely than individuals without personality disorder diagnoses to have global functioning impairment, including difficulties in their interpersonal life as well as in their employment history (Skodol et al, 2002). In fact, studies have shown that those with Axis II disorders are significantly more impaired in virtually all domains of social relationships and global social adjustment than those without personality disorders, those with major depressive disorder, those with anxiety disorders, and those with alcohol use disorders (Ansell, Sanislow, McGlashan, & Grilo, 2007;Norén et al, 2007;Skodol, Oldham, et al, 2005;Spitzer et al, 1995). These results seem to persist for individuals with personality disorders for a long time (Hong et al, 2005;Skodol, Johnson, Cohen, Sneed, & Crawford, 2007).…”

Psychoeducation with problem-solving (PEPS) therapy for adults with personality disorder: a pragmatic randomised controlled trial to determine the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a manualised intervention to improve social functioning

“…[1][2][3] Compared with those with no PD, people with PD show higher rates of premature mortality, 4 greater engagement in health-compromising behaviours such as substance abuse, 1 greater levels of general health problems 5 and more use of health-care services. 6 PD is also associated with financial difficulties and problems maintaining jobs, 5 marital dissatisfaction and intimate partner violence, 7 crime 8 and poor quality of life. 9 These matters make a strong case for treating people with PD.…”