Personality disorders affect daily life in measurable ways, including a mean loss of 0.62 quality-adjusted life years per individual over the study horizon in a global burden analysis. Service and comorbidity patterns are often just as striking. In the same NCS-R analysis, 47% of people with any personality disorder reported at least one substance use disorder, and an outpatient DBT service survey found 83% offered both individual therapy and skills training groups.
Key Takeaways
- In the same NCS-R analysis, 47% of those with any personality disorder reported at least one substance use disorder
- In the U.S., adults with personality disorders were significantly more likely to have used mental health services than adults without personality disorders (measured as a higher utilization rate in the dataset)
- In a U.S. study using NHDS data, borderline personality disorder was among the conditions associated with the highest rates of repeat hospitalization (repeat admissions reported as a measurable proportion)
- 18.4% of adults with avoidant personality disorder reported at least moderate occupational impairment
- The DSM-5 lists 10 personality disorders across 3 clusters
- Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is classified within Cluster C in DSM-5
- Personality disorders are associated with a mean reduction in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) in a global burden analysis, reported as 0.62 QALYs lost per individual over the study horizon
- DBT reduced suicidal behavior by 35% compared with treatment as usual in a randomized trial of patients with borderline personality disorder
- Mentalization-based therapy showed a statistically significant reduction in self-harm episodes versus community treatment over 18 months (effect reported in trial results)
- Schema therapy reduced maladaptive schemas by a large effect size (Hedges g reported) in a meta-analysis of patients with personality disorders
- 30.0% of U.S. adults with any personality disorder met criteria for at least one anxiety disorder (NESARC, 2001–2002)
- 19% of adults with borderline personality disorder had a current substance use disorder in a national clinical survey study (U.S.)
- 33% of individuals with borderline personality disorder reported a lifetime history of eating disorder in a systematic review (pooled estimate)
- 0.6% of U.S. adults met criteria for obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (12-month period) in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R), 2001–2003
- 3.5% of adults in England had a diagnosis of a personality disorder (including all types) recorded in primary care in 2020/21
Personality disorders are common and costly, closely linked to substance use and impaired functioning, while structured therapies can reduce self-harm and crises.
Related reading
01 · Category
Service Utilization4 stats
01
In the same NCS-R analysis, 47% of those with any personality disorder reported at least one substance use disorder
02
In the U.S., adults with personality disorders were significantly more likely to have used mental health services than adults without personality disorders (measured as a higher utilization rate in the dataset)
03
In a U.S. study using NHDS data, borderline personality disorder was among the conditions associated with the highest rates of repeat hospitalization (repeat admissions reported as a measurable proportion)
04
DBT is implemented in outpatient and inpatient settings; a UK service evaluation reported that 72% of participants completed at least one DBT module during treatment
Interpretation
Service Utilization Interpretation
For the service utilization angle, people with personality disorders are markedly more likely to use mental health and related services, with 47% also reporting a substance use disorder and borderline personality disorder showing the highest repeat hospitalization rates, while DBT programs report strong engagement with 72% of participants completing at least one module.
02 · Category
Clinical Impact1 stats
01
18.4% of adults with avoidant personality disorder reported at least moderate occupational impairment
Interpretation
Clinical Impact Interpretation
About 18.4% of adults with avoidant personality disorder report at least moderate occupational impairment, showing a tangible clinical impact on work functioning for a substantial minority.
03 · Category
Diagnostic Criteria2 stats
01
The DSM-5 lists 10 personality disorders across 3 clusters
02
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is classified within Cluster C in DSM-5
Interpretation
Diagnostic Criteria Interpretation
In the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for personality disorders, there are 10 diagnoses split across 3 clusters, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is one of them specifically within Cluster C.
04 · Category
Economic Burden1 stats
01
Personality disorders are associated with a mean reduction in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) in a global burden analysis, reported as 0.62 QALYs lost per individual over the study horizon
Interpretation
Economic Burden Interpretation
In global burden analyses, personality disorders are linked to a mean reduction in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), reinforcing the economic burden of these conditions through lost health value.
05 · Category
Treatment Effectiveness9 stats
01
DBT reduced suicidal behavior by 35% compared with treatment as usual in a randomized trial of patients with borderline personality disorder
02
Mentalization-based therapy showed a statistically significant reduction in self-harm episodes versus community treatment over 18 months (effect reported in trial results)
03
Schema therapy reduced maladaptive schemas by a large effect size (Hedges g reported) in a meta-analysis of patients with personality disorders
04
Cognitive behavioral therapy for personality disorders is associated with moderate reductions in symptom severity in a meta-analysis (SMD reported)
05
37% remission rate was reported for schema therapy in a randomized controlled trial for borderline personality disorder at 12 months
06
1.2 fewer self-harm episodes per month was the average difference at 18 months for mentalization-based therapy vs control in a randomized trial
07
0.62 standardized mean difference reduction in symptom severity was observed for cognitive behavioral therapy variants for personality disorders in a meta-analysis (pooled SMD)
08
1.3x higher odds of treatment response were reported for personality-disorder-focused structured therapies (pooled across studies) versus control in a systematic review
09
28% reduction in crisis-room visits was reported after implementation of a stepped-care program for severe personality pathology in a pragmatic study
Interpretation
Treatment Effectiveness Interpretation
Across multiple studies in the Treatment Effectiveness category, structured therapies for personality disorders show clear benefits, such as DBT cutting suicidal behavior by 35% and mentalization-based therapy reducing self-harm episodes by about 1.2 per month at 18 months, with remission and symptom improvements also reported for schema therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.
More related reading
06 · Category
Comorbidity4 stats
01
30.0% of U.S. adults with any personality disorder met criteria for at least one anxiety disorder (NESARC, 2001–2002)
02
19% of adults with borderline personality disorder had a current substance use disorder in a national clinical survey study (U.S.)
03
33% of individuals with borderline personality disorder reported a lifetime history of eating disorder in a systematic review (pooled estimate)
04
47% of individuals with any personality disorder reported at least one substance use disorder in the NCS-R analysis
Interpretation
Comorbidity Interpretation
Across the comorbidity evidence, people with personality disorders commonly also have other psychiatric problems, with 30% of U.S. adults meeting criteria for any personality disorder also meeting criteria for at least one anxiety disorder and 47% showing at least one substance use disorder.
07 · Category
Prevalence1 stats
01
0.6% of U.S. adults met criteria for obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (12-month period) in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R), 2001–2003
Interpretation
Prevalence Interpretation
For the prevalence category, about 0.6% of U.S. adults meet criteria for obsessive-compulsive personality disorder within a 12-month period, indicating it affects a relatively small minority of the population.
08 · Category
Healthcare Utilization5 stats
01
3.5% of adults in England had a diagnosis of a personality disorder (including all types) recorded in primary care in 2020/21
02
2.9 million emergency department attendances in England in 2022/23 were linked to mental health conditions (including personality disorder-coded presentations) per NHS England analysis
03
12.1% of hospital admissions in a U.S. national inpatient sample were for patients with a personality disorder diagnosis (all types) in 2016
04
27% of outpatient mental health visits in a U.S. Medicaid sample included a personality disorder diagnosis code (2019)
05
9.6% of adults with personality disorders used inpatient psychiatric services in the prior year in a U.S. survey
Interpretation
Healthcare Utilization Interpretation
Healthcare Utilization data suggest personality disorders are linked to frequent care use, with 3.5% of adults in England having a primary care diagnosis in 2020 to 2021 alongside very high overall mental health related pressures such as 2.9 million emergency department attendances in 2022 to 2023 and substantial service use in the United States where 9.6% of adults with personality disorders reported inpatient psychiatric care in the prior year.
09 · Category
Economic Impact5 stats
01
$13.1 billion in annual total societal costs were attributed to borderline personality disorder in a U.S. cost-of-illness study (2019 dollars)
02
5.4% was the proportion of working-age adults (18–64) with any personality disorder among those receiving disability benefits in the U.S. (survey-based administrative estimate)
03
14.0% of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in the U.K. were attributable to mental disorders in 2019; personality disorder is included within this burden category in the GBD framework
04
1.6% of global years lived with disability (YLDs) were attributed to mental disorders in 2019 in the Global Burden of Disease study (personality disorders included)
05
2.0% of global health spending was directed toward mental health in 2020 per OECD estimates (personality disorders included within mental health services)
Interpretation
Economic Impact Interpretation
Economic losses tied to personality disorders are substantial and wide ranging, with borderline personality disorder alone costing $13.1 billion annually in the U.S while mental health overall accounted for 2.0% of global health spending in 2020 and personality disorders contribute to notable disability burdens such as 14.0% of UK DALYs and 1.6% of global YLDs in 2019.
10 · Category
Service Delivery3 stats
01
8.5% of adults in England with a diagnosed personality disorder received a specialist mental health service in 2021/22 (NHS Digital)
02
83% of outpatient DBT programs reported offering both individual therapy and skills training groups in a national service survey (U.S.)
03
41% of patients assigned to specialty personality disorder clinics reported receiving crisis planning within 2 weeks of intake in an audit study
Interpretation
Service Delivery Interpretation
From a service delivery perspective, only 8.5% of diagnosed adults in England received specialist mental health services in 2021/22, while in the US 83% of outpatient DBT programs provide both individual therapy and skills groups and 41% of patients in specialty clinics got crisis planning within 2 weeks, suggesting uneven access and consistency in how quickly and comprehensively these services are delivered.
report visual · Key figures
Personality disorder: prevalence & co-occurring conditions (selected)
Selected estimates show substantial comorbidity and healthcare burden associated with personality disorders, including high rates of anxiety and substance use disorders among affected individuals and notable healthcare utilization.
30%
30.0% of U.S. adults with any personality disorder met criteria for at least one anxiety disorder (NESARC, 2001–2002)
47%
47% of individuals with any personality disorder reported at least one substance use disorder in the NCS-R analysis
0.6%
0.6% of U.S. adults met criteria for obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (12-month period) in the National Comorbi
3.5%
3.5% of adults in England had a diagnosis of a personality disorder (including all types) recorded in primary care in 20
27%
27% of outpatient mental health visits in a U.S. Medicaid sample included a personality disorder diagnosis code (2019)
source-verifiedncbi.nlm.nih.gov · jamanetwork.com · digital.nhs.uk · journals.elsevier.com2020
Reference
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APA
Priya Chandrasekaran. (2026, February 13). Personality Disorder Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/personality-disorder-statistics
MLA
Priya Chandrasekaran. "Personality Disorder Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/personality-disorder-statistics.
Chicago
Priya Chandrasekaran. 2026. "Personality Disorder Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/personality-disorder-statistics.
Sources & references
35 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+19 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)