Personality disorders and medical comorbidity

Purpose of review: Personality disorders are not usually thought of as being associated with medical comorbidity. Research shows that medical comorbidity in personality disorders is clinically important. Recent findings: In general those with personality disorders do not feel as fit as others do. Also, those with personality disorders in addition to other psychiatric disorders, such as depression and antisocial personality disorder, are likely to have more health problems than those without personality disorders. People with active borderline personality disorder have been shown to have more medical problems than those with remitted borderline personality disorder. Personality disorders can complicate the course of chronic medical illnesses. Finally, the use of psychotropic medications is not unusual in personality disorders and in itself can be associated with medical illnesses. Summary: Clinicians caring for people with personality disorders need to be aware of possible medical comorbidity. More research is needed.