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Aetiological risk factors for personality disorders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

Jeremy Coid
Jeremy Coid*
Affiliation:
Academic Section of Forensic Psychiatry, St Bartholomew's and the Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, John Howard Centre, 2 Crazier Terrace, Hackney, London E9 6AT
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Abstract

Background

Elucidation of aetiological processes leading to development of Axis II disorders is important in category validation and could lead to new treatments.

Aims

To establish aetiological associations between Axis II disorders and specific risk factors.

Method

Male and female subjects (n=260) in maximum security hospitals and prisons were interviewed to determine DSM-III Axis II and lifetime Axis I diagnoses. Aetiological risk factors were obtained at interview and from case files. Independent statistical associations were established by logistic regression.

Results

Axis II categories were divided into four groups: (a) disorders of character development, secondary to an adverse early environment: antisocial, self-defeating and paranoid; (b) disorders of temperament, secondary to constitutional aetiology: avoidant, dependent, schizoid and schizotypal; (c) a ‘mixed’ disorder of constitutional and environmental aetiology: borderline; and (d) aetiological associations not established: narcissistic, histrionic, compulsive and passive-aggressive.

Conclusions

The study validates several Axis II categories but challenges the inclusion of others within Axis II of DSM-IV, in particular schizoid, schizotypal, avoidant and borderline personality disorders. The findings have implications for future treatment interventions.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 174 , Issue 6 , June 1999 , pp. 530 - 538
Copyright
Copyright © 1999 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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