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Relationship between Neurosis and Personality Disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Peter Tyrer
Affiliation:
Mapperley Hospital, Porchester Road, Nottingham NG3 6AA
Patricia Casey
Affiliation:
Mapperley Hospital
Joanna Gall
Affiliation:
University of Southampton Medical School, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton

Summary

316 psychiatric patients—predominantly out-patients—with a clinical diagnosis of neurosis (International Classification of Disease), were given an interview schedule for assessing personality disorders. Nearly two fifths were rated as having personality disorder, the anankastic type being the most common and sociopathic personality disorder the least. Patients with anxiety, phobic and obsessional neurosis were all significantly more likely to show personality disorder than those with depressive neurosis. Broadly, passive-dependent personalities were linked to anxiety neurosis, anankastic personality disorder to obsessional neurosis, and both anankastic and passive-dependent personalities to phobic neurosis. In a clinical trial of the efficacy of two dosage regimes of phenelzine in 60 patients the presence of personality disorder significantly impaired clinical outcome. The results suggest strongly that the assessment of personality in neurotic disorders is necessary to make an adequate diagnosis and predict the outcome of treatment.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © 1983 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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