Personality disorders

Personality disorders are conditions where an individuals’ personality characteristics can cause regular and long term problems in the way they cope with everyday life and interact with other people; anti-social personality disorder (ASPD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD) are two types.

APMS (2007) describes these disorders as:

“ASPD is characterised by disregard for and violation of the rights of others. People with ASPD have a pattern of aggressive and irresponsible behaviour which emerges in childhood or early adolescence. They account for a disproportionately large proportion of crime and violence committed. ASPD was present in 0.3% of adults aged 18 or over (0.6% of men and 0.1% of women).”

“BPD is characterised by high levels of personal and emotional instability associated with significant impairment. People with BPD have severe difficulties with sustaining relationships, and self-harm and suicidal behaviour is common.”

In Horsham and Mid Sussex CCG, approximately 560 adults aged 16-64 were estimated to have borderline personality disorder, and 420 with antisocial personality disorder.

Applying sex-specific prevalence rates of borderline personality disorder to the West Sussex population aged 16-64 years (by CCG)

Prevalence of borderline personality disorderEstimate number of persons aged 16-64 with personality disorder
%Males% Females% allCoastal West Sussex CCGCrawley CCGHorsham and Mid Sussex CCGWest Sussex
Borderline Personality Disorder0.3%0.6%0.4%1,1302905601,980
Antisocial personality disorder0.6%0.1%0.3%8502204201,480
Source: APMS 2007, 2014 mid-year population estimates
Note. Values have been rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not sum due to rounding.

The presence of a personality disorder, notably antisocial personality disorder, may have considerable implications in the treatment and management of co-existing psychiatric and physical conditions. Co-existence of a personality disorder and another mental health problem is high.