Level of personality functioning among outpatients with predominant anxiety symptoms

Abstract

<jats:sec id="S0924933824013610_sec7286" sec-type="intro"><jats:title>Introduction</jats:title><jats:p>Dimensional diagnosis of personality disorders has as its main criterion the assessment of the level of functionality. And in patients with other diagnostic categories, there is a difference in the degree of functioning, as well as a difference in the course and prognosis of the disorder. The reason for such a different course may be the existence of a certain degree of personality dysfunctionality.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="S0924933824013610_sec7287"><jats:title>Objectives</jats:title><jats:p>The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence of personality disorder in patients with neurotic disorder and predominantly anxiety symptomatology.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="S0924933824013610_sec7288" sec-type="methods"><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>A descriptive cross-sectional study was made to determine personality disorder in patients with neurotic disorder (F40-F48, excluding those where the disorder is related to stress F43) and predominantly anxiety symptomatology. The HAM-A scale was used to assess anxiety, and the LPFS-BF-2.0 was used to assess the level of personality functioning. The results were processed by descriptive statistical analysis.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="S0924933824013610_sec7289" sec-type="results"><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>The study included 25 individuals (<jats:italic>N</jats:italic> 25, 64% women), aged between 18 and 65 years (mean age 44.16, SD 13.20) with a diagnosed neurotic disorder. All subjects had elevated anxiety symptomatology, mean HAM-A score was 35.36 (SD 7.76). The assessment of the level of personality functioning with the LPFS-BF-2.0 gave the following results: 20% of people have a personality difficulty, 12% have a mild personality disorder, 32% have a moderate and 4% have a severe personality disorder.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="S0924933824013610_sec7290" sec-type="conclusions"><jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title><jats:p> According to the obtained results, 68% of people with a neurotic disorder and a high degree of anxiety have a certain degree of personality dysfunction. The prevalence of personality disorder in individuals with neurotic disorder is high (48%). These results lead to the conclusion that people with pronounced anxiety often have a disruption in personality. In people with a high level of anxiety, an assessment should be made for the level of functioning of the person, as well as for the existence of a personality disorder, and the treatment should be adjusted according to the results obtained. In addition to the treatment of the emerging symptoms, the personality dysfunctions should also be treated.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="S0924933824013610_sec7291"><jats:title>Disclosure of Interest</jats:title><jats:p>None Declared</jats:p></jats:sec>