Impact of comorbid personality disorder on violence in psychosis

Abstract

BackgroundThe impact of comorbid personality disorder on the occurrence of violence in psychosis has not been fully explored.AimsTo examine the association between comorbid personality disorder and violence in community-dwelling patients with psychosis.MethodA total of 670 patients with established psychotic illness were screened for comorbid personality disorder. Physical assault was measured from multiple data sources over the subsequent 2 years. Logistic regression was used to assess whether the presence of comorbid personality disorder predicted violence in the sample.ResultsA total of 186 patients (28%) were rated as having a comorbid personality disorder. Patients with comorbid personality disorder were significantly more likely to behave violently over the 2-year period of the trial (adjusted odds ratio = 1.71, 95% CI 1.05–2.79).ConclusionsComorbid personality disorder is independently associated with an increased risk of violent behaviour in psychosis.