What Is a Personality Disorder?
Overview of the 10 Psychological Disorders of Personality
Personality disorders are not as uncommon as you may think. As many as 15 percent of U.S. adults have one or more of these maladaptive mental illnesses.
What Is Personality?
The combined and consistent patterns of emotion, thought and behavior that make an individual unique comprise personality. This aspect of self differs from mood in that mood is a more changeable, often situational response, whereas personality is a relatively stable, life-long combination of traits.
Think of the overall list of general characteristics that those who know you would use if asked to describe what you’re like. Whether you are cheerful and optimistic or reclusive and brooding, these characteristics are a product of your heredity and early life experience, and are generally fixed by the time you reach adulthood.
What Is a Personality Disorder?
According to the DSM-IV-TR, psychology's premier diagnostic reference, those with psychological personality disorders have traits that cause them to feel and behave in socially distressing ways. Depending on the specific disorder, these personalities are generally described in negative terms such as hostile, detached, needy, antisocial or obsessive. People with personality disorders typically experience discord and instability in many aspects of their lives, and most are prone to blame others for their problems.
While many other psychological disorders fluctuate in terms of symptom presence and intensity, as with normal personality, personality disorders typically remain relatively constant throughout life, although they do vary in severity from individual to individual.
Causes of Personality Disorders
There is still much to be learned about the causes of disorders in this class. Although the specific origins of personality disorders are yet unclear, studies have consistently shown child abuse and neglect as being antecedent risks to the development of personality disorders in adulthood. However, history of abuse is not evident for all patients diagnosed with a personality disorder (Dobbert 2007).
Classification of Personality Disorders
There are currently 10 conditions that are considered personality disorders, some of which have very little in common. Mental health professionals typically group those personality disorder types that share characteristics into one of three clusters:
Cluster A Personality Disorders are those considered to be marked by odd, eccentric behavior. Paranoid (PPD), Schizoid and Schizotypal Personality Disorders are in this category.
Cluster B Personality Disorders are evidenced by dramatic, erratic behaviors and include Histrionic (HPD), Narcissistic (NPD), Antisocial (APD or ASPD) and Borderline (BPD) Personality Disorders.
Cluster C Personality Disorders are distinguished by the anxious, fearful behavior commonly seen in Obsessive-Compulsive (OCPD), Avoidant (APD) and Dependent (DPD) Personality Disorders.
Diagnosis of Personality Disorders
To be diagnosed with a disorder in this category, a psychologist or psychiatrist must evaluate the patient for the following:
- Symptoms have been present for an extended period of time, are inflexible and pervasive, and are not a result of alcohol or drugs or another psychiatric disorder. The symptoms began to manifest in adolescence or early adulthood.
- Symptoms cause significant distress or negative consequences in the person's life.
Symptoms are seen in at least two of the following areas:
- thoughts (ways of looking at the world, thinking about self or others)
- emotions (appropriateness, intensity, and range of emotional functioning)
- interpersonal functioning (relationships and interpersonal skills)
- impulse control
Prognosis for those with Personality Disorders
Although there's no cure for these conditions, therapy and medication can help many individuals manage their symptoms. However, those with personality disorders often have difficulty maintaining consistent psychiatric care due to poor relationships with medical and mental health professionals. Those suffering may refuse to take responsibility for their behavior or, as a manifestation of their illness, feel overly distrustful, deserving, or needy, taxing the doctor-patient relationship. These patients are also unlikely to faithfully follow a prescribed treatment regimen of regular psychiatric appointments and are often noncompliant with drug therapy. It may be small consolation, but the symptoms of some personality disorders do improve with age (Dobbert 2007, Hare 1999).
More Information on Personality Disorders
There are numerous on-line and in print resources with additional information on personality disorders, including: Psychology Prof Online, The Mayo Clinic: Mental Health Center and the article Personality Disorders: Brief Summary of the Ten Disorders of Personality.
This article describes definitions and clinical tools used by professionals to diagnose personality disorders. The contents of this article are not meant to be used for diagnosis and are not a substitute for professional help and counseling.
Additional PD Resources
American Psychiatric Association APA (2000) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR).
Dobbert, D. (2007) Understanding Personality Disorders: An Introduction. Greenwood Press.
Hare, R. D. (1999) Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths among Us. Guiford Press.
