Cross-cultural studies on the prevalence of personality disorders

Abstract

This article reviews cross-cultural research on personality disorders. The concept of personality disorders is discussed in terms of whether they are universal phenomena or specific to Western society. Then, research on the prevalence of personality disorders in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia is reviewed. The overall rates of the prevalence of personality disorders range from 2.40% to 20.00%. The data document that the prevalence of borderline and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders is the highest, especially in highincome countries. The cross-cultural differences in the prevalence of the specified personality disorders are explained by its influencing factors such as race, ethnicity, social requirements, and the dimension of individualism-collectivism. The occurrence of personality disorders across cultures suggests some degree of psychological unity, and in turn, similarities in the neurobiological mechanisms of personality disorders.