PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES AND CONSTRUCT VALIDITY OF A SPANISH LANGUAGE SCALE FOR SCREENING ANTISOCIAL PERSONALITY

DSM-IV personality disorders in Mexico: results from a general population survey

OBJECTIVE: This paper reports the first population estimates of prevalence and correlates of personality disorders in the Mexican population. METHOD: Personality disorders screening questions from the International Personality Disorder Examination were administered to a representative sample of the Mexican urban adult population (n = 2,362) as part of the Mexican National Comorbidity Survey, validated with clinical evaluations conducted in the United States. A multiple imputation method was then implemented to estimate prevalence and correlates of personality disorder in the Mexican sample. RESULTS: Multiple imputation method prevalence estimates were 4.6% Cluster A, 1.6% Cluster B, 2.4% Cluster C, and 6.1% any personality disorder. All personality disorders clusters were significantly comorbid with DSM-IV Axis I disorders. One in every five persons with an Axis I disorder in Mexico is likely to have a comorbid personality disorder, and almost half of those with a personality disorder are likely to have an Axis I disorder. CONCLUSIONS: Modest associations of personality disorders with impairment and strong associations with treatment utilization were largely accounted for by Axis I comorbidity suggesting that the public health significance of personality disorders lies in their comorbidity with, and perhaps effects upon, Axis I disorders rather than their direct effects on functioning and help seeking.

Violence related injuries in the emergency room: alcohol, depression, and conduct problems

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to obtain epidemiological measures of the association between alcohol consumption and emergency room (ER) attendance due to violence, compared to the general population in the city of Pachuca, Mexico, during October-November, 1996 and June-July, 1997.

METHOD

The study was a population-based case-control design.

INTERVENTION AND MEASUREMENTS

Data consisted of an interviewer-administered questionnaire, collected on a 24-h basis, during the entire week.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Cases were 127 patients (78% male) admitted to the ER because of an injury that was the result of violence (being in a fight or being attacked by someone). A sample of residents from Pachuca (n = 920) was the comparison group.

RESULTS

Patients reporting drinking within 6h compared to nondrinkers were more likely to suffer a violence-related injury [34.0 (17.5-66.2)] and alcohol dependent patients were more likely to be involved in a violence-related injury [7.4 (3.5-15.6)] compared to noncurrent drinkers. When both alcohol prior and alcohol dependence were considered simultaneously in multiple models among current drinkers, patients with violence-related injuries were more likely to report alcohol prior but not to be positive for alcohol dependence. Depressive symptoms, but not conduct problem behavior, were also associated with violent injury in simultaneous regressions that included alcohol variables.

CONCLUSIONS

In the city of Pachuca, Mexico, a large relationship between drinking prior to the event and violence-related injury, regardless of alcohol dependence, was found. Depression was also related to violence, suggesting the need for more comprehensive intervention with these patients.