Alcohol, tobacco, and drug use disorders and personality disorder symptoms

Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2004 Feb;12(1):65-75. doi: 10.1037/1064-1297.12.1.65.

Abstract

In a nonclinical sample of 395 young adults, the authors evaluated the relations between major personality traits, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; DSM-IV; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) personality disorder symptoms, and DSM-IV alcohol use disorders (AUDs). Consistent with previous findings, traits related to disinhibition and negative affectivity were consistently associated with AUDs, as were Cluster B personality disorder symptoms (especially antisocial and borderline disorder symptoms). Multivariate analyses revealed that Cluster B symptoms were significantly associated with AUDs above and beyond what was accounted for by personality traits. Further, the authors found differential patterns of relations between other substance use disorders (SUDs; i.e., tobacco dependence and drug use diagnoses) and personality disorder symptoms. Overall, these results suggest that personality disorder symptoms predict unique variance in SUDs that reflect maladaptive aspects of personality traits.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Alcohol Drinking / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Personality Disorders / psychology*
  • Personality Tests
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Regression Analysis
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Substance-Related Disorders / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Tobacco Use Disorder / psychology*