Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Personality Disorders: Paranoid and Schizoid

Personality Disorders: Paranoid and Schizoid

Personality disorders represent enduring cognition, affect, and behavior patterns that significantly deviate from societal norms. These maladaptive traits often lead to difficulties in various domains, including interpersonal relationships, occupational settings, and overall psychological well-being. Paranoid personality disorder and schizoid personality disorder are two distinct conditions marked by odd or eccentric behavior.
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Paranoid personality disorder is...

Personality Disorders: Schizotypal and Histrionic

Personality Disorders: Schizotypal and Histrionic

Schizotypal personality disorder and histrionic personality disorder are two distinct psychological conditions classified under personality disorders, each characterized by unique behavioral patterns and social difficulties. Both disorders significantly affect interpersonal relationships and emotional well-being, leading to social isolation and frustration.
Schizotypal Personality Disorder: Eccentric Behavior and Social Withdrawal
Schizotypal personality disorder is marked by odd or eccentric...

Personality Disorders: Narcissistic and Avoidant

Personality Disorders: Narcissistic and Avoidant

Narcissistic and avoidant personality traits represent two contrasting patterns of behavior that significantly influence social interactions and self-perception. While individuals with narcissistic disorder seek admiration and validation, individuals with avoidant personality disorder withdraw due to fear of judgment.
Characteristics of Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Narcissistic individuals exhibit an inflated sense of self-importance and an excessive need for admiration. They are often...

Personality Disorders: Dependent and Obsessive-Compulsive

Personality Disorders: Dependent and Obsessive-Compulsive

Dependent personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder are two separate psychological conditions that influence behavior, relationships, and overall life functioning. Though both involve maladaptive behaviors, their core characteristics and motivations differ significantly.
Dependent Personality Disorder
Dependent personality disorder is characterized by an excessive reliance on others to manage various aspects of life. Individuals with this disorder often struggle with...

Theoretical Approaches to Psychological Disorder

Theoretical Approaches to Psychological Disorder

The development of psychological disorders, which are characterized by deviant, maladaptive, and personally distressing behaviors, has been explored through several theoretical approaches.
Biological approach
The biological approach posits that internal, organic factors are the primary causes of such disorders. This perspective emphasizes brain structure and function, genetic predispositions, and neurotransmitter imbalances. For example, schizophrenia has been associated with both genetic...

Introduction to Personality Psychology

Introduction to Personality Psychology

Personality encompasses a set of enduring traits and behavioral patterns that define how individuals think, feel, and interact, ultimately shaping their unique identities. The concept of personality has deep historical roots, deriving from the Latin term "persona," which means "mask." This term initially referred to the roles played by actors in ancient theater, signifying the different facets individuals display in various contexts.
Early Theories of Personality
The study of personality dates...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Borderline personality disorder.

Postgraduate medicine·2017

Same author

Dysthymic disorder.

Postgraduate medicine·2017

Same author

Elucidating the association between the self-harm inventory and several borderline personality measures in an inpatient psychiatric sample.

International journal of psychiatry in clinical practice·2017

Same author

Borderline personality disorder and mental health care utilization: The role of self-harm.

Personality disorders·2017

Same author

Research experiences and attitudes among five disciplines of residents in the United States.

Education for primary care : an official publication of the Association of Course Organisers, National Association of GP Tutors, World Organisation of Family Doctors·2017

Same author

Criminal Behavior and Borderline Personality: Correlations Among Four Measures.

Innovations in clinical neuroscience·2016

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study

Published on: August 18, 2020

Personality disorders: a nation-based perspective on prevalence.

Randy A Sansone¹, Lori A Sansone

¹Departments of Psychiatry and Internal Medicine, Wright State University School of Medicine, Dayton, Ohio, USA. randy.sansone@khnetwork.org

Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience

|June 4, 2011

Summary

Personality disorder prevalence in the general population is around 10%. Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is most common in the US, while other countries show varied prevalence rates for personality pathology.

Keywords:

Axis II personality disorders prevalence

More Related Videos

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Published on: March 8, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study

Published on: August 18, 2020

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Published on: March 8, 2018

Area of Science:

Psychiatry
Epidemiology
Psychology

Background:

Personality disorders represent a significant area of psychiatric research.
Understanding their prevalence in community samples is crucial for public health.
Previous studies have provided varying estimates of personality disorder frequency.

Purpose of the Study:

To synthesize findings from major studies on personality disorder prevalence in US community samples.
To compare US prevalence rates with international community studies.
To identify the most common personality disorders and explore reasons for variations.

Main Methods:

Review and meta-analysis of five major epidemiological studies on personality disorders in the United States.
Comparison of prevalence data from US studies with international community-based research.
Analysis of reported frequencies of specific personality disorders.

Main Results:

Overall prevalence of Axis II disorders in US community samples is consistently around 10%.
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is the most frequent Axis II disorder in US community samples, followed by narcissistic and borderline personality disorders.
International community prevalence rates for personality disorders range from 6.1% to 13.4%, averaging 9.7%.

Conclusions:

The overall prevalence of personality disorders in the general population is approximately 10%.
Specific personality disorder types and their frequencies vary between the US and other countries.
Variations in common personality pathology across countries may be attributed to diverse factors.