Comorbidity within Axis-II Disorders: The Unending Issues
Nonyenim Solomon Enyidah
*
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Esther Ijeoma Nonye-Enyidah
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Personality Disorders have since the 19th century been known and established as psychiatric diagnosis, yet till date, issues of definition still remain unresolved. With a prevalence of 10-15% of the general population, and it’s associated extreme disruption in the lives of the patients and the communities, it is still not a principle focus of treatment. It’s assessment and diagnosis have been restricted to clinical settings and drug treatment and rehabilitation centres. A study in a Nigerian prison community has revealed a comorbidity prevalence rate of 70% with substance use disorder, a 25% comorbidity prevalence within the personality disorders and a strong association between personality disorders and criminality.
Keywords: Axis-2 comorbidity, DSM-5, ICD-10, prison inmates, substance use disorders