Personality disorders in the community: Results from the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Part II. Relationships between personality disorders, Axis I mental disorders and physical conditions with disability and health consultations

Abstract

Background. The aims of this study were threefold. First, to ascertain whether personality disorder (PD) was a significant predictor of disability (as measured in a variety of ways) over and above that contributed by Axis I mental disorders and physical conditions. Second, whether the number of PD diagnoses given to an individual resulted in increasing severity of disability, and third, whether PD was a significant predictor of health and mental health consultations with GPs, psychiatrists, and psychologists, respectively, over the last 12 months. Method. Data were obtained from the National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, conducted between May and August 1997. A stratified random sam..