Personality Disorders and Disorders of Mood

Abstract

Personality disorders (PDs) are highly prevalent among those diagnosed with mood disorders. The high rate of co-occurrence raises important issues about how the assessment, clinical presentation, and treatment of mood disorders may be influenced by the presence of a PD. Rates and types of comorbidity differ by type of mood disorder. For example, there is some evidence of higher rates of PDs in those with dysthymia compared to those with major depressive disorder (MDD) only, and rates of PDs may also be higher for bipolar than unipolar mood disorders. In terms of course and severity of mood disorders, PDs are associated with greater overall symptom severity and greater frequency of mood episodes. Treatment for depression is complicated by comorbid PDs; those with PDs and depression tend to have worse treatment outcomes, longer time to remission, shorter time to relapse, and increased likelihood of relapse.