Personality disorder in an Early Intervention Psychosis cohort: Findings from the Social Epidemiology of Psychoses in East Anglia (SEPEA) study

Neighbourhood characteristics and the treated incidence rate of borderline personality pathology among young people

OBJECTIVE

The impact of the wider social environment, such as neighbourhood characteristics, has not been examined in the development of borderline personality disorder. This study aimed to determine whether the treated incidence rate of full-threshold borderline personality disorder and sub-threshold borderline personality disorder, collectively termed borderline personality pathology, was associated with the specific neighbourhood characteristics of social deprivation and social fragmentation.

METHOD

This study included young people, aged 15-24 years, who attended Orygen's Helping Young People Early programme, a specialist early intervention service for young people with borderline personality pathology, from 1 August 2000-1 February 2008. Diagnoses were confirmed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Personality Disorders, and census data from 2006 were used to determine the at-risk population and to obtain measures of social deprivation and fragmentation.

RESULTS

The study included 282 young people, of these 78.0% (n = 220) were female and the mean age was 18.3 years (SD = ±2.7). A total of 42.9% (n = 121) met criteria for full-threshold borderline personality disorder, and 57.1% (n = 161) had sub-threshold borderline personality disorder, defined as having three or four of the nine Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; DSM-IV) borderline personality disorder criteria. There was more than a sixfold increase in the treated incidence rate of borderline personality pathology in the neighbourhoods of above average deprivation (Quartile 3) (incidence rate ratio = 6.45, 95% confidence interval: [4.62, 8.98], p < 0.001), and this was consistent in the borderline personality disorder sub-groups. This association was also present in the most socially deprived neighbourhood (Quartile 4) (incidence rate ratio = 1.63, 95% confidence interval: [1.10, 2.44]), however, only for those with sub-threshold borderline personality disorder. The treated incidence of borderline personality pathology increased incrementally with the level of social fragmentation (Quartile 3: incidence rate ratio = 1.93, 95% confidence interval: [1.37, 2.72], Quartile 4: incidence rate ratio = 2.38, 95% confidence interval: [1.77, 3.21]).

CONCLUSION

Borderline personality pathology has a higher treated incidence in the more socially deprived and fragmented neighbourhoods. These findings have implications for funding and location of clinical services for young people with borderline personality pathology. Prospective, longitudinal studies should examine neighbourhood characteristics as potential aetiological factors for borderline personality pathology.

What Is the Prevalence of Visual Hallucinations in a First-Episode Psychosis Population? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Literature

Background and Hypothesis

This systematic review and meta-analysis review the literature regarding the prevalence of visual hallucinations in patients with first-episode psychosis. Previous reviews have focused on the prevalence of visual hallucinations in a general psychosis population, highlighting a weighted prevalence of 27%. However, no reviews have focused specifically on the experiences of those with a first episode of psychosis. Understanding "first-episode" experiences is crucial, as intervention during this "critical period" is thought to define long-term outcome. Therefore, it is important that the prevalence of different symptoms during this period is accurately represented.

Study Design

Systematic searches yielded 15 studies to be meta-analyzed. Information to calculate event rates was extracted. Studies were rated for their methodological quality using a risk of bias tool. The quality of included studies varied; generalizability bias was the domain with the most risk of bias.

Study Results

Prevalence rates were synthesized from the 15 papers included in the final analysis, which generated a weighted prevalence estimate of 33% of people with first-episode psychosis experiencing visual hallucinations. Subgroup analyses were carried out and did not demonstrate significant associations.

Conclusions

This meta-analysis provides a robust estimate of 33% for the prevalence of visual hallucinations in first-episode psychosis; highlighting that visual hallucinations are relatively common experiences.

The prevalence of personality disorder in mental state disorder

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review examines the prevalence of personality disorder in those with mental state disorder. Some challenges disentangling these psychopathologies are delineated and advances in understanding broadly are reviewed.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent taxonomic changes to a dimensionally based classification system in the ICD-11 and DSM of mental disorders-V's alternative model of personality disorder include requiring cut offs to examine clinical outcomes akin to those in hypertension. These new criteria affect personality disorder prevalence where it is comorbid with mental state disorder, although more robust the dimensional approach complicates understanding both theoretically and practically. Such issues include: deciding the cut off for 'pathology', understanding if psychopathology is related to mental state disorder, personality disorder or both, and consideration of the clinical value of comorbidity.

SUMMARY

There is overlap between personality pathology and all types of mental state disorder. However, the shift to a dimensional framework of personality pathology means new methods to define and measure this comorbidity are needed. Dimensional conceptualisation of personality pathology challenges the underlying ontology of comorbidity in this area.