Personality Disorders: Facts And Statistics

This page is for informational purposes only — if you need help for a personality disorder, please contact Vertava Health to connect with a professional and receive individualized treatment and support today.

Personality disorders are mental health conditions that impact the way an individual thinks and behaves. These disorders affect people all across the United States and around the world, impacting nearly every aspect of life.

Prevalence Of Personality Disorders

According to the National Comorbidity Study Replication, 9.1 percent of adults in the United States have a personality disorder.
Up to half of psychiatric patients in hospitals and clinics have a personality disorder.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

The rate of antisocial personality disorder in the general population is estimated between 0.2 and 3.3 percent.

Borderline Personality Disorder

• Approximately 1.4 percent of adults have borderline personality disorder.
• Among people with borderline personality disorder, the rate of co-occurring mental health conditions is 84.5 percent.
• The rate of anxiety disorders among people with borderline personality disorder is 60.5 percent.
• The rate of impulse control disorders among people with borderline personality disorder is 49 percent.
• The rate of substance use disorders among people with borderline personality disorder is 38.2 percent.
• The rate of mood disorders among people with borderline personality disorder is 34.3 percent.
• Approximately 42.4 percent of people with borderline personality disorders report having sought treatment for their condition in the past year.

Dependent Personality Disorder

• Less than one percent of the population has dependent personality disorder.

Histrionic Personality Disorder

• Histrionic personality disorder affects less than 2 percent of the population.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

• Narcissistic personality disorder is estimated to have a lifetime prevalence in the general population of 6.2 percent.

Paranoid Personality Disorder

• The rate of paranoid personality disorder in the general population is estimated between 2.3 percent and 4.4 percent.

Schizoid Personality Disorder

• Approximately 3.1 to 4.9 percent of the general population has schizoid personality disorder.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

• The estimated prevalence of schizotypal personality disorder in the general population is approximately 3.9 percent.

Personality Disorders In Men And Women

• Personality disorders appear in men and women in roughly equal numbers. However, certain personality disorders may be more likely to appear in one sex or the other.
• Nearly 75 percent of people diagnosed with borderline personality disorder are female.
• Men are six times as likely as women to be diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder.
• Narcissistic personality disorder is more common among men than women.

Personality Disorders In Specific Populations

• Studies have not found any association between personality disorders and race or ethnicity.
• Although race and ethnicity do not alter risk factors for developing a personality disorder, members of minority groups are more likely to carry a higher burden of disability because of any mental illness, including personality disorders.

Personality Disorders And The Rate Of Co-Occurring Conditions

• Approximately 67 percent of people with personality disorders have one or more co-occurring conditions.
• More than 50 percent of people with personality disorders also have an anxiety disorder.
• 24.1 percent of people with personality disorders also have a mood disorder.
• 23.2 percent of people with personality disorders are also diagnosed with an impulse control disorder.
• 22.6 percent of people with personality disorders also have a substance use disorder.

Global Impact Of Personality Disorders

• Only limited information is available about the global impact of personality disorders.
• According to a study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, personality disorders are estimated to affect 6.1 percent of people around the world.
• The prevalence of personality disorders was highest in the United States and Columbia. Rates of personality disorders were lowest in Western Europe.

Personality Disorders: Treatment Facts

• Approximately 39 percent of people with a personality disorder reported receiving treatment in the last year.
• The treatment recommended for patients with personality disorders will depend on the specific disorder, the patient’s characteristics, and the way the disorder affects the patient’s life.
• Treatment for personality disorders may involve a team of specialists, including social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, nurses, and pharmacists.
• Common treatments used to improve symptoms among patients with personality disorders include psychotherapy, medication, and hospitalization.