Family and Professional Functioning in Patients With Personality Disorders

Abstract

Introduction

Personality disorders (PD) are weight group of conditions. As possible causes of PD, literatures indicates being victim/witness of domestic violent. There is valid suspicion that PDs may have influence on marital status, education level and professional activity.

Objective

Studying the PD influence on patients quality of life concerning both personal and professional areas of life.

Aim

Analysis of the exposition to the violence in relation to PD diagnosis. Evaluation of the education level and professional activity in studied group, furthermore marital status.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of 123 patients diagnosed with PD hospitalized over the years 2012-2015 in the Department of psychiatry and psychotherapy, medical university of Silesia hospital. Statistic analysis of variables and comparing with previous researches.

Results

Three quarters of hospitalized patients were females.

Average age was about 50 years old.

Proximal martial status: 40% single, 60% formalized relationship (about 20% were divorced).

Among participants, 50% were employed, and 80% have completed at least 12 years of education.

About 40% had been victim/witness of domestic violence.

Conclusions

The patients with PD had often experienced the domestic violence in childhood. Higher risk of impaired personality development with patients, who had been violence victim or witness is possible and they need to be advised accordingly. Research did not reveal PDs’ influence on the education level. To define correlation between employment or marital status and PD further researches are needed.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.