Personality disorders in late life.

There is growing empiric evidence to suggest that a large number of elderly patients who have chronic depression frequently have comorbid personality disorders as well. In addition, contrary to commonly held clinical beliefs, a recent meta-analysis suggests that rates of personality disorders among older adults are essentially equivalent to that of younger groups. Although understudied, personality-disordered elderly patients have been shown to be less responsive to mental health interventions, and personality dysfunction may be one of the most relevant factors to account for when examining late-life depression remission and relapse. The paper considers briefly the notion of personality and personality disorders in late-life, examines prevalence rates including a recent meta-analysis, explores relevant issues associated with treatment, and discusses new developments in treatment.