No figures exist for the prevalence of personality disorder in ethnic minorities, compared to the general UK population, where prevalence figures range between 13% for general practitioner patients to 40-50% of psychiatric in-patients. Differences in diagnosis indicate that Black patients more likely to be diagnosed with Schizophrenia and less likely to be diagnosed with personality disorder. There is underuse of psychotherapy services by ethnic groups and less likelihood of receiving psychological therapies.

A cross-sectional survey of inpatient data collected over 2 years(2007-2009), examined the prevalence of personality disorder, with regards to ethnic distribution, among 6531 psychiatric inpatients. The survey was conducted in Mersey Care NHS Trust, a mental health care provider in the North West of England. Ethnicity was divided into 2 broad categories, White British and Black and Minority Ethnic group (BME).

273(4.2%) patients were diagnosed with personality disorder. 91(33.3%) males and 177(64.8%) females had personality disorder diagnosis. 23(8.4%) BME patients compared to 250(91.6%) White British patients were diagnosed with personality disorder. The most common diagnosis was Emotionally Unstable personality disorder (184 cases). Personality disorder is under-diagnosed in this inpatient population compared to the evidence base. Results support the research evidence base, that personality disorder in BME is under-diagnosed.

Personality disorder is a stigmatizing label and is fraught with diagnostic uncertainty. Pre-existing attitudes in these communities regard mental illness as a non-entity, a stigma or taboo. It is not only the patient population that needs educating but also the professionals responsible for detection and management of personality disorder.