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Burden of Disease in Personality Disorders

2008

The burden of disease in patients with personality disorders was investigated using a generic quality of life measure. In a sample of 1,708 individuals with a clinical diagnoses of personality disorders the EuroQol EQ-5D (EQ-5D) was administered.

The results showed that the mean EQ-5D score was 0.56 and that the total number of personality disorder diagnoses rather than the specific type of disorder determined the quality of life. The borderline personality disorder was not associated with the highest burden of disease.

The authors conclude that the burden of disease in patients with personality disorders is substantial and comparable to somatic illnesses such as lung cancer and Parkinson’s disease. The findings also show that the primary research focus on borderline personality disorders may not be justified from a quality of life perspective.

 

Source:

Soeteman DI, Verheul R, Busschbach JJV. The Burden of Disease in Personality Disorders: Diagnosis-Specific Quality of Life. Journal of Personality Disorders 2008; 22 (3): 259-268. https://doi.org/10.1521/pedi.2008.22.3.259

Not open access.