Personality Disorders

Personality disorders (PDs) are enduring mental health conditions characterized by deeply ingrained and maladaptive personality traits that significantly disrupt an individual’s daily functioning and relationships. While these disorders are long-term in nature, their symptoms can be effectively managed through a combination of psychotherapy, medication, and evidence-based self-help strategies.

What Is A Personality Disorder?

Personality disorders arise when enduring and problematic personality traits impair an individual’s ability to function effectively in daily life. These disorders are marked by chronic and maladaptive patterns of thinking, emotional regulation, and behavior. Often persistent across the lifespan, they can significantly disrupt a person’s work, social relationships, and personal well-being.

The types, causes, and symptoms of personality disorders are overarching and research ¹ Newlin, E., & Weinstein, B. (2015). Personality disorders. Continuum (Minneapolis, Minn.), 21(3 Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry), 806–817. https://doi.org/10.1212/01.CON.0000466668.02477.0c is still trying to understand the different personality disorders and their well-categorized diagnosis and treatment. Personality disorders are common but long-term and complex. They are frequently associated ² Ekselius L. (2018). Personality disorder: a disease in disguise. Upsala journal of medical sciences, 123(4), 194–204. https://doi.org/10.1080/03009734.2018.1526235 with an inferior quality of life (QoL), poor health, and premature mortality. These mental conditions can be distressing for the suffering individual, the people around them, as well as society as a whole. 

Individuals with personality disorders often struggle with emotional dysregulation and may perceive reality in distorted or rigid ways. They frequently experience low self-esteem and diminished self-confidence, which can lead to projecting their insecurities onto others. These challenges impact their ability to respond to situations with balanced emotions and appropriate behavior. As a result, they are more prone to experiencing intense and persistent negative emotions such as:

• Suspicion
• Narcissism
• Mistrust
• Impulsivity
• Malice, etc.

These challenges often lead to severely impaired social functioning, marked by unstable, conflict-ridden, and toxic relationships. Without appropriate intervention, personality disorders can deeply affect both personal and professional relationships, making it difficult for individuals to maintain healthy social connections.

However, with early diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and a consistent therapeutic approach, many individuals can manage their symptoms effectively over time. Encouragingly, some personality disorders may naturally diminish in intensity with age, as emotional reactivity lessens and coping mechanisms improve. 

Read More About Narcissism Here

How Common Are Personality Disorders?

Personality disorders are quite common. According to the WHO ³ Fariba KA, Gupta V, Kass E. Personality Disorder. [Updated 2022 Apr 21]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556058/ , the worldwide prevalence of personality disorders is said to be 6.6%. The prevalence of the three separate clusters (A, B, and C) is 3.6%, 1.5%, and 2.7%, respectively.

Research ⁴ Sansone, R. A., & Sansone, L. A. (2011). Personality disorders: a nation-based perspective on prevalence. Innovations in clinical neuroscience, 8(4), 13–18. shows that the prevalence of personality disorders varies with age, gender, ethnicity, and cultural background. In fact, studies ⁵ Tyrer, P., Mulder, R., Crawford, M., Newton-Howes, G., Simonsen, E., Ndetei, D., Koldobsky, N., Fossati, A., Mbatia, J., & Barrett, B. (2010). Personality disorder: a new global perspective. World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), 9(1), 56–60. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2051-5545.2010.tb00270.x show that personality disorders are most common in:

• The young
• The unmarried
• The socially and economically disadvantaged
• People with inadequate education
• The incarcerated population
• People with existing mental illness

Symptoms Of A Personality Disorder

Depending on the type, personality disorders may have different symptoms. ⁶ Fariba KA, Gupta V, Kass E. Personality Disorder. [Updated 2022 Apr 21]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556058/ Some of them include:

1. Impulsive and risky behavior (such as gambling, sex addiction, binge eating, etc.)
2. Unstable or fragile self-perception
3. Unstable and difficult relationships
4. Mood swings
5. Paranoia
6. Volatile behavior
7. Neglected hygiene
8. Cognitive impairment (particularly amnesia)
9. Substance abuse disorders
10. Self-injury
11. Suicidal behavior

Read More About Paranoia Here

Different Types Of Personality Disorders

In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), personality disorders are categorized into three distinct clusters based on shared patterns of symptoms and behavioral traits. These clusters help clinicians better understand the nature and severity of the disorders. Below is an overview of the three major clusters and the specific personality disorders that fall within each group:

1. Cluster A

Personality disorders in cluster A are disorders defined by odd or eccentric behavior. This group of disorders is greatly associated with schizophrenia and it shares similar schizoaffective symptoms like:

• Distorted reality
• Hallucinations
• Eccentric behavior
• Difficulty in maintaining relationships
• Experiencing paranoia and other irrational fears
• Vulnerability to psychosis and schizoaffective disorders

The three types ⁷ Esterberg, M. L., Goulding, S. M., & Walker, E. F. (2010). Cluster A Personality Disorders: Schizotypal, Schizoid and Paranoid Personality Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence. Journal of psychopathology and behavioral assessment, 32(4), 515–528. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-010-9183-8 of personality disorders in cluster A include:

I. Paranoid personality disorder (PPD)

People suffering from paranoid personality disorders usually experience feelings of extreme mistrust and irrational suspicion. They also experience anger over presumed abuse, anxiety over perceived threats, and a heightened sense of fear.

II. Schizoid personality disorder (PD)

People with schizoid PD display odd behavior related to personal detachment, social avoidance, and apathy. They are restricted in their emotional expressions and they tend to avoid intimacy. Mostly, they are characterized by a lack of interpersonal relationships.

III. Schizotypal personality disorder (SPD)

People with schizotypal PD are characterized by odd beliefs, thinking, and speech. The hallmark of SPD is paranoia and its sufferers tend to experience paranoia-related social anxiety.

2. Cluster B

Cluster B ⁸ Ekselius L. (2018). Personality disorder: a disease in disguise. Upsala journal of medical sciences, 123(4), 194–204. https://doi.org/10.1080/03009734.2018.1526235 personality disorders are characterized by dramatic, impulsive, and extremely emotional behavior. People with these personality disorders are characterized by impulsive, self-destructive, and emotional behavior and incomprehensible social interactions.

The most common personality disorders in cluster B include:

I. Antisocial personality disorder

Dissocial or antisocial PD involves a disregard for social rules and social norms and a lack of empathy for others. People with antisocial PD usually harbor a grandiose self-image and display aggressive and manipulative behavior. Research ⁹ Ekselius L. (2018). Personality disorder: a disease in disguise. Upsala journal of medical sciences, 123(4), 194–204. https://doi.org/10.1080/03009734.2018.1526235 affirms that they are also the ones with criminal and psychopathic tendencies.

II. Borderline personality disorder (BPD)

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a psychiatric disorder in which the person suffers from unstable relationships, a distorted sense of self and reality, and emotional dysfunction.

III. Histrionic personality disorder

Histrionic personality disorder is a psychiatric disorder in which a person displays extremely erratic, emotionally charged, and attention-seeking behavior.

IV. Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD)

People with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) ¹⁰ Kacel, E. L., Ennis, N., & Pereira, D. B. (2017). Narcissistic Personality Disorder in Clinical Health Psychology Practice: Case Studies of Comorbid Psychological Distress and Life-Limiting Illness. Behavioral medicine (Washington, D.C.), 43(3), 156–164. https://doi.org/10.1080/08964289.2017.1301875 are characterized by grandiosity, fantasies of unlimited power or importance, and the need for admiration or special treatment. They also display extremely high levels of paranoia and psychopathy.

Read More About Cluster‌ ‌B‌ ‌Personality Disorders Here

3. Cluster C

The characteristics of personality disorders in cluster C are anxiety or fear-related. These disorders include:

I. Avoidant personality disorder (AVPD)

Avoidant personality disorder (AVPD) is associated with emotional distress, cognitive impairment, and disability. People with this type of disorder tend to isolate themselves and avoid duties and responsibilities. They are also extremely sensitive to criticism and rejection.

II. Dependent personality disorder

Dependent Personality Disorder (DPD) is a long-term condition ¹¹ Ramsay, G., & Jolayemi, A. (2020). Personality Disorders Revisited: A Newly Proposed Mental Illness. Cureus, 12(8), e9634. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.9634 that involves pervasive mental and emotional dependence on others. Sufferers rely on other people for comfort, reassurance, advice, and support. They suffer from a chronic fear of abandonment and have trouble making simple everyday decisions.

III. Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCD)

People with OCD or anankastic PD tend to compulsively focus on orderliness and perfectionism. They observe very rigid conformity to rules and are prone to controlling others around them to the point of satisfaction.

What Causes Personality Disorders?

There is no specific reason for the development of personality disorders. However, research ¹² Sansone, R. A., & Sansone, L. A. (2011). Personality disorders: a nation-based perspective on prevalence. Innovations in clinical neuroscience, 8(4), 13–18. attributes the common causes of personality disorders to:

1. Genetic mechanisms ¹³ Nigg, J. T., & Goldsmith, H. H. (1994). Genetics of personality disorders: perspectives from personality and psychopathology research. Psychological bulletin, 115(3), 346–380. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.115.3.346 and birth deformities
2. Traumatic brain injury ¹⁴ Burns, S., Kappenberg, R., McKenna, A., & Wood, C. (1994). Brain injury: personality, psychopathology and neuropsychology. Brain injury, 8(5), 413–427. https://doi.org/10.3109/02699059409150993
3. Personality traits ¹⁵ Widiger, T. A., Crego, C., Rojas, S. L., & Oltmanns, J. R. (2018). Basic personality model. Current opinion in psychology, 21, 18–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2017.09.007 like narcissism, aggression, suspicion, etc. add to the risk of PDs
4. A history of childhood abuse and trauma
5. A history of parental abuse, neglect, and abandonment
6. A family history of mental disorders
7. Negative developmental experiences ¹⁶ Ekselius L. (2018). Personality disorder: a disease in disguise. Upsala journal of medical sciences, 123(4), 194–204. https://doi.org/10.1080/03009734.2018.1526235 (related to war, poverty, etc.)
8. Certain cultural and societal norms ¹⁷ Alarcón, R. D., & Foulks, E. F. (1995). Personality disorders and culture: contemporary clinical views (Part A). Cultural diversity and mental health, 1(1), 3–17.
9. Stress ¹⁸ Candrian, M., Schwartz, F., Farabaugh, A., Perlis, R. H., Ehlert, U., & Fava, M. (2008). Personality disorders and perceived stress in major depressive disorder. Psychiatry research, 160(2), 184–191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2007.06.014 (like workplace demands, bullying, workaholism, etc.)
10. Major life changes (like the death of a loved one, experiences of relocation, etc.)

How To Diagnose Personality Disorders?

The criteria to diagnose personality disorders have been laid down by psychiatric manuals like ICD and DSM. These disorders can be easily categorized and diagnosed on the basis of their symptoms, severity, and longevity. The process of diagnosing personality disorders ¹⁹ Hopwood, C. J., Kotov, R., Krueger, R. F., Watson, D., Widiger, T. A., Althoff, R. R., Ansell, E. B., Bach, B., Michael Bagby, R., Blais, M. A., Bornovalova, M. A., Chmielewski, M., Cicero, D. C., Conway, C., De Clercq, B., De Fruyt, F., Docherty, A. R., Eaton, N. R., Edens, J. F., Forbes, M. K., … Zimmermann, J. (2018). The time has come for dimensional personality disorder diagnosis. Personality and mental health, 12(1), 82–86. https://doi.org/10.1002/pmh.1408 usually involves:

• A physical examination of the patient
• Interviews with the patients and their families
• Psychological assessments
• Differential diagnosis of PD

If it is seen that the concerned patient is suffering from a personality disorder, he/she is advised medication and/or therapy.  An early and timely diagnosis²⁰ Widiger T. A. (2003). Personality disorder diagnosis. World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), 2(3), 131–135. of a personality disorder means a better treatment outcome.

A psychologist or psychiatrist makes a differential diagnosis to separate out PD symptoms from similar symptoms associated with other psychiatric disorders like depression, psychosis, schizophrenia, etc. This is done through several personality disorder tests, such as:

• Standardized Assessment of Personality (SAP) ²¹ Walters, P., Moran, P., Choudhury, P., Lee, T., & Mann, A. (2004). Screening for personality disorder: a comparison of personality disorder assessment by patient and informants. International journal of methods in psychiatric research, 13(1), 34–39. https://doi.org/10.1002/mpr.162
• Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐IV Personality Disorders (SCID‐II) ²² Farmer, R. F., & Chapman, A. L. (2002). Evaluation of DSM-IV personality disorder criteria as assessed by the structured clinical interview for DSM-IV personality disorders. Comprehensive psychiatry, 43(4), 285–300. https://doi.org/10.1053/comp.2002.33494
• Computerized Adaptive Test of Personality Disorder (CAT-PD) ²³ Simms, L. J., Goldberg, L. R., Roberts, J. E., Watson, D., Welte, J., & Rotterman, J. H. (2011). Computerized adaptive assessment of personality disorder: introducing the CAT-PD project. Journal of personality assessment, 93(4), 380–389. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223891.2011.577475
• Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) ²⁴ Floyd AE, Gupta V. Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. [Updated 2022 Apr 28]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557525/ , etc.

Treatment For Personality Disorders

Personality disorders are complex and often enduring psychiatric conditions. However, with the right combination of psychotherapy, medication, and structured self-help strategies, they can be effectively managed over time.

Support from family, friends, and the broader community plays a vital role in the recovery process, helping individuals navigate the challenges of these disorders. In more severe cases—especially when safety is a concern—hospitalization may be necessary to ensure proper care and stabilization.

1. Therapy

Therapy for personality disorders addresses behavioral and conduct disorders ²⁵ Bateman, A. W., Gunderson, J., & Mulder, R. (2015). Treatment of personality disorder. Lancet (London, England), 385(9969), 735–743. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61394-5 , self-harm and suicidal tendencies, and emotional dysfunction. In fact, these are aimed to induce empathy, assertiveness, confidence, and healthy thought processes in people suffering from personality disorders. The common therapies used in treating PDs include:

I. Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy improves the underlying, abnormal, psychological, and biological mechanisms that lead to a disordered personality. It helps the patients reorganize their thought processes and correct their behavior ²⁶ Gabbard G. O. (2000). Psychotherapy of personality disorders. The Journal of psychotherapy practice and research, 9(1), 1–6. . Popularly, cognitive behavioral therapy ²⁷ Bateman, A. W., Gunderson, J., & Mulder, R. (2015). Treatment of personality disorder. Lancet (London, England), 385(9969), 735–743. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61394-5 (CBT) and dialectic behavioral therapy (DBT) are used to treat personality disorders.

II. Mentalization-based treatment (MBT)

Mentalization-based treatment ²⁸ Bateman, A., & Fonagy, P. (2010). Mentalization based treatment for borderline personality disorder. World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), 9(1), 11–15. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2051-5545.2010.tb00255.x is used to correct the reduced capacities to mentalize or self-reflect in people with PDs. It helps address problems related to emotional regulation and impulsivity, especially in the context of interpersonal interactions.

III. Milieu therapy

Milieu therapy ²⁹ Belsiyal Chellappan, X., Rentala, S., & Das, A. (2021). Effectiveness of therapeutic milieu intervention on inpatients with depressive disorder: A feasibility study from North India. Perspectives in psychiatric care, 57(4), 1604–1615. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppc.12725 aims to address issues related to maladjustment in people suffering from personality disorders. It helps to make substantial changes in a patient’s immediate life circumstances and environment, reduce conflict and boost life satisfaction, and improve his/her quality of life.

IV. Family therapy

Family therapy ³⁰ Glick, I. D., Dulit, R. A., Wachter, E., & Clarkin, J. F. (1995). The family, family therapy, and borderline personality disorder. The Journal of psychotherapy practice and research, 4(3), 237–246. aims to reduce conflict and ill feelings between people suffering from PDs and their close ones, especially family and friends. It addresses the broken or unsuccessful interpersonal relationships that characterize PDs. 

V. Group therapy

Group therapy ³¹ Nehls N. (1992). Group therapy for people with borderline personality disorder: interventions associated with positive outcomes. Issues in mental health nursing, 13(3), 255–269. https://doi.org/10.3109/01612849209078777 involves patients with PDs joining groups of people suffering from similar personality disorders and resolving their issues by mutual understanding and empathy. It is the cornerstone of community support when it comes to recovery from crippling personality disorders.

2. Medication

Currently, there are no prescribed medications specifically for personality disorders. A 2018 study ³² Ekselius L. (2018). Personality disorder: a disease in disguise. Upsala journal of medical sciences, 123(4), 194–204. https://doi.org/10.1080/03009734.2018.1526235 elaborates that the current pharmacological treatment for personality disorders assumes that psychotropic drugs can treat the personality disorder symptoms specifically caused by biochemical abnormalities.

But, because of the diversity of symptoms and causes, medical practitioners have increasingly relied on psychiatric polypharmacy to address the symptoms of personality disorders.

For instance, in order to eliminate specific symptoms of comorbid psychiatric disorders in personality disorders (say borderline personality disorder), a combination ³³ Olabi, B., & Hall, J. (2010). Borderline personality disorder: current drug treatments and future prospects. Therapeutic advances in chronic disease, 1(2), 59–66. https://doi.org/10.1177/2040622310368455 of antidepressants, antipsychotics, or mood-stabilizing drugs is administered. As heavy use of medication comes with risks of side effects, it is widely recommended that such a pharmacological treatment approach should come with close and continuous clinical supervision of medical specialists.

Coping With Personality Disorders

For individuals living with personality disorders, certain self-help strategies can significantly enhance day-to-day functioning and emotional regulation. However, in cases of severe personality disorders, professional intervention from a psychologist or psychiatrist is essential, as the symptoms may be too overwhelming to manage independently.

The following self-care strategies may aid in coping with the challenges of personality disorders:

• Educate yourself about personality disorders and how to address them
• Practice self-care by eating nutritious food, getting adequate sleep and exercise, etc.
• Avoid substance use (like alcohol, drugs, tobacco, etc.)
• Avail relaxation and stress management techniques like yoga, meditation, etc.
• Develop healthy hobbies that help you grow or practice gratitude (like journaling, gardening, hiking, etc.)
• Communicate with your loved ones and spend time with them
• Join a support group and develop a strong support system
• Maintain a disciplined regime of therapy and medication
• Identify your self-harm triggers and avail emergency mental health services, if needed

Takeaway

Personality disorders are among the most enduring, often misunderstood, and potentially debilitating psychiatric conditions. When left untreated, they can significantly impair an individual’s quality of life, career progression, interpersonal relationships, and overall social functioning. However, with the right combination of therapy, medication, and consistent self-help strategies, these disorders can be effectively managed. Recovery also requires patience, self-compassion, and a strong belief in the healing process.

Personality Disorders At A Glance

1. Personality disorders (PDs) are characterized by enduring and extreme personality traits that disrupt an individual’s ability to function in daily life.
2. Examples of personality disorders include Antisocial Personality Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder, among others. These disorders are categorized into three clusters—A, B, and C—based on shared behavioral characteristics.
3. The development of PDs is influenced by a combination of genetic predisposition and various psychosocial factors, such as early life experiences and environmental stressors.
4. When left untreated, personality disorders can significantly impair an individual’s personal, social, and professional functioning. However, with a structured approach involving psychotherapy, medication, and consistent self-help strategies, symptoms can be effectively managed and quality of life can greatly improve.

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