Enduring patterns of perceiving, relating to, and thinking about the environment and oneself that begin by early adulthood and are exhibited in a wide range of important social and personal contexts. These patterns are inflexible and maladaptive, causing either significant functional impairment or subjective distress. Many types of personality or personality disorders have been described. The following are those specified in dsm-iv-tr, which groups them into three clusters:
- Cluster A Paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal
- Cluster B Antisocial, borderline, histrionic, narcissistic
- Cluster C Avoidant, dependent, obsessive-compulsive
Deeply ingrained, inflexible, maladaptive patterns of relating, perceiving, and thinking of sufficient severity to cause other impairment in functioning or distress. Personality disorders are generally recognizable by adolescence or earlier, continue throughout adulthood, and become less obvious in middle or old age.
A personality or character disorder characterized by coldness, aloofness, and an avoidance of social contact or emotional closeness. The person is unable to express hostility and fearfulness, avoids competition, and has daydreams of being all-powerful. These people tend to be shy and withdrawn as children and become more introverted, reclusive, and often eccentric at puberty.
A group of mental illnesses that is characterized by persistent, inflexible, and dysfunctional patterns of thought, action, emotion, and attitude that cause significant distress in social roles, job performance, family relationships, and other key areas of day-to-day living. Individuals with a personality disorder differ markedly from the norm in the ways they think, feel, relate to others, and control emotional impulses. This pattern begins in adolescence or early adulthood and holds true over time for a wide variety of personal and social situations.
Personality disorders are conditions where individuals struggle to learn from past experiences or adapt to changes, which can lead to distress and difficulty in social interactions. These behavioral patterns typically emerge during adolescence and can persist throughout life. While these patterns can become more evident during stressful times, they are distinct from other psychiatric conditions and are not caused by substance abuse. These disorders can often coexist with feelings of depression or anxiety.
Personality disorders are categorized into three distinct groups, though there can be overlaps among them.
The first group exhibits unconventional behavior. Those with paranoid tendencies display distrust and skepticism towards others; schizoid individuals exhibit emotional detachment; while schizotypal personalities demonstrate behaviors that are reminiscent of, but not as intense as, schizophrenia.
The second group displays behavior that leans towards the dramatic. Individuals with histrionic tendencies are easily excitable and always seek attention. Those with narcissistic traits possess an inflated sense of self-worth. Individuals diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder, previously termed psychopaths, ignore societal norms and are indifferent to the feelings and rights of others, often leading to encounters with law enforcement. Meanwhile, those with borderline personality disorder act on impulse and have unstable self-perceptions, relationships, and emotions.
Individuals in the third group exhibit signs of anxiety and fear. Those with dependent personalities struggle with self-confidence, making it challenging for them to act independently. Individuals with avoidant personalities are highly sensitive to criticism and rejection, often hesitating to try new experiences. Meanwhile, people with obsessive-compulsive personalities tend to have very inflexible habits and routines.
Treating personality disorders can be challenging. Approaches include counseling, psychotherapy, and behavior therapy. The treatment process may be lengthy, and individuals with these disorders might not consistently follow recommendations from medical professionals or therapists.