Personality disorders commonly occur in people with alcohol and drug use disorders.

Assessment: Trained interviewers conducted face to face interviews as part of the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Alcohol and drug use disorders were assessed with the structured diagnostic Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule-DSM-IV (AUDADIS-IV). Current dependence required participants to satisfy at least three of seven DSM-IV criteria for dependence in the preceding 12 months. Alcohol abuse required at least one of four DSM-IV criteria for abuse, but not dependence. Drug specific abuse and dependence were derived in the same way. Personality disorders were also diagnosed by AUDADIS-IV. Participants were required to answer personality symptom questions about their lives, excluding times when they were ill, using drugs or medication, drinking heavily, experiencing withdrawal, anxious, depressed, or manic. Three of the 10 personality disorders defined by DSM-IV criteria were not assessed (borderline, schizotypal, and narcissistic).