Personality disorders, alcohol use, and alcohol misuse

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Personality disorders (PDs) are persistent mental health conditions originating from genetic and environmental factors.
• PDs cause significant dysfunction for individuals and their social interactions.
• Understanding the link between PDs and alcohol use is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the associations between all 10 recognized personality disorders and various patterns of alcohol use and misuse.
• To address potential biases in regression models and examine heterogeneity across PDs, drinking patterns, and gender.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from the 2004/2005 National Epidemiological Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions (N=34,653).
• Construction of measures for alcohol consumption, including quantity, intoxication, driving after drinking, daytime drinking, and alcohol abuse/dependence.
• Regression modeling to assess associations while controlling for bias.

Main Results:

• Individuals with PDs are significantly more likely to engage in alcohol use and misuse compared to the general population.
• Specific PDs, including antisocial, borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic types, exhibit the strongest associations with alcohol use and misuse.
• These associations are particularly pronounced among heavier drinkers and vary across genders.

Conclusions:

• Personality disorders are strongly linked to increased alcohol use and misuse.
• Certain PDs have a higher propensity for alcohol-related problems, especially in heavy drinkers.
• Findings highlight significant public health implications and social costs associated with comorbid PDs and alcohol misuse.