Adolescent Personality Disorders Associated With Violence and Criminal Behavior During Adolescence and Early Adulthood

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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: A community-based, longitudinal prospective study was conducted to investigate whether personality disorders during adolescence are associated with elevated risk for violent behavior during adolescence and early adulthood. METHOD: A community-based sample of 717 youths from upstate New York and their mothers were interviewed in 1983, 1985–1986, and 1991–1993. Axis I and II disorders were assessed in 1983 and 1985–1986. Antisocial personality disorder was not assessed because most participants were less than 18 years of age in 1983 and 1985–1986. Violent behavior was assessed in 1985–1986 and 1991–1993. RESULTS: Adolescents with a greater number of DSM-IV cluster A or cluster B personality disorder symptoms were more likely than other adolescents in the community to commit violent acts during adolescence and early adulthood, including arson, assault, breaking and entering, initiating physical fights, robbery, and threats to injure others. These associations remained significant after controlling...