Growing number of research concern high prevalence of specific personality disorders among psychiatric patients and influence they have on course or treatment process of co-occurring mental disorders. Moreover personality disordered patients can derive not enough benefits from psychiatric care.

Issue being presented is part of doctoral thesis, financed by the Polish National Science Center (decision number DEC-2011/01/N/NZ5/05364). General goal of the research is to observe patients during their hospitalization in regard to compliance with therapeutic procedures from the perspective of co-occurrence of personality disorders. Existing results are not unambiguous, notably with general lack of them in Poland.

To answer the question whether there are any differences (and what kind of?) in adherence to psychiatric treatment pertaining to personality and co-occurring personality disorders?

This is a prospective study. 120 patients from 3 psychiatric units have been assessed at the admission (mental state, demographic factors, prior history of treatment, personality) and at the end of hospitalization (adherence to current treatment - interviews with patients and psychiatrists). Among used methods are: Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR Axis II Personality Disorders (SCID-II), Eysenck’s Personality Questionnaire (EPQ- R) and self-prepared interviews (corresponding with defined indicators of variables studied). Among controlled variables are primary psychiatric diagnosis (although one of the exclusion criteria are: psychosis or mental retardation).

Data on relation between personality dimensions and disorders and patterns of psychiatric care use will be introduced and discussed.

More adequate treatment proceedings may be needed.