31st January 2024

Epidemiology

In a systematic review and meta-analysis of the adult population in Western countries, it was found that the prevalence of any personality disorder is 12.16%. Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder has the highest prevalence (4.32%), and dependent personality disorder has the lowest (0.78%). Prevalence of clusters of personality disorders (see below) has shown that cluster A disorders have 7.23% prevalence, followed by cluster C with prevalence of 6.70%, then cluster B with 5.53%. It is also noted that prevalence in community samples are less than those seen in clinical or forensic settings, where it ranges between 25% and 65%.

References

• Volkert J, Gablonski TC, Rabung S. Prevalence of personality disorders in the general adult population in Western countries: systematic review and meta-analysis. The British Journal of Psychiatry. 2018 Dec;213(6):709-15.