DSM-III personality disorders and family history of mental illness.

This report investigates the way in which the presence of a personality disorder (PD) in probands affects the frequency of psychiatric disorders in relatives. Four proband groups--panic, panic plus a PD, major depression, and depression plus a PD--were given the Family History-Research Diagnostic Criteria and the Family History for DSM-III Anxiety and Personality Disorders. Information was gathered on 730 first-degree relatives. Panic patients with a PD had higher incidences of panic and panic plus a PD in relatives. There was increased depression in relatives of probands with either depression or a PD. Alcoholism appeared highest in relatives of probands who had combined depression and a PD.