Needs of Veterans With Personality Disorder Diagnoses in Community-Based Mental Health Care

Recent research suggests veterans are more likely to experience personality disorders (PDs) relative to the general population. However, due to longstanding stigma surrounding these conditions, research into the clinical and psychosocial needs of veterans with PDs has been greatly limited.

Data from a sample of 104,198 veterans receiving community-based, state-funded mental health services in 2022 was used for this study. The dataset included demographic, comorbid clinical needs, and psychosocial outcome patterns among veterans with and without documented PD diagnoses.

Among veterans in this sample, 2% had a diagnosed PD, with diagnoses most common among veterans who were White (risk ratio [RR], 1.11), non-Hispanic (RR, 1.03), aged ≥ 45 years (RR, 1.16-1.40), underemployed (RR, 2.00), nontraditionally housed (RR, 1.42), and also diagnosed with trauma-related (RR, 1.33), bipolar (RR, 1.56), and/or psychotic (RR, 1.15) disorders. Veterans receiving treatment in a state psychiatric hospital (RR, 3.05), community mental health facility (RR, 1.06), or judicial system setting (RR, 6.33) were also more likely to have a diagnosed PD.

This study of a national sample of veterans receiving community-based, state-funded mental health care attests to the necessity for transdiagnostic treatment planning and care coordination for veterans with PDs.