Personality disorders are a class of social disorders characterised by enduring maladaptive patterns of behavior, cognition and inner experience,

exhibited across many contexts and deviating markedly from those accepted by the individual's culture. These patterns develop early, are inflexible and are associated with significant distress or disability. a personality disorder is an "enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates markedly from the expectation of the individual's culture, is pervasive and inflexible, has an onset in adolescence or early adulthood, is stable over time, and leads to distress or impairment."

General symptoms of a personality disorder Personality disorder symptoms include: Frequent mood swings Stormy relationships Social isolation Angry outbursts Suspicion and mistrust of others Difficulty making friends A need for instant gratification Poor impulse control Alcohol or substance abuse

Specific types of personality disorders The specific types of personality disorders are grouped into three clusters based on similar characteristics and symptoms. Many people with one diagnosed personality disorder also have signs and symptoms of at least one additional personality disorder. Cluster A personality disorders These are personality disorders characterized by odd, eccentric thinking or behavior and include: Paranoid personality disorder Distrust and suspicion of others Believing that others are trying to harm you Emotional detachment Hostility Lack of interest in social relationships

Schizoid personality disorder

Limited range of emotional expression Inability to pick up normal social cues Appearing dull or indifferent to others Peculiar dress, thinking, beliefs or behavior Perceptual alterations, such as those affecting touch Discomfort in close relationships Flat emotions or inappropriate emotional responses Indifference to others "Magical thinking" believing you can influence people and events with your thoughts Believing that messages are hidden for you in public speeches or displays

Schizotypal personality disorder

Cluster B personality disorders These are personality disorders characterized by dramatic, overly emotional thinking or behavior and include: Antisocial (formerly called sociopathic) personality disorder Disregard for others Persistent lying or stealing Recurring difficulties with the law Repeatedly violating the rights of others Aggressive, often violent behavior Disregard for the safety of self or others Impulsive and risky behavior Volatile relationships Unstable mood Suicidal behavior Fear of being alone Constantly seeking attention Excessively emotional Extreme sensitivity to others' approval Unstable mood

Borderline personality disorder

Histrionic personality disorder

Excessive concern with physical appearance

Narcissistic personality disorder Believing that you're better than others Fantasizing about power, success and attractiveness Exaggerating your achievements or talents Expecting constant praise and admiration Failing to recognize other people's emotions and feelings

Cluster C personality disorders These are personality disorders characterized by anxious, fearful thinking or behavior and include: Avoidant personality disorder Hypersensitivity to criticism or rejection Feeling inadequate Social isolation Extreme shyness in social situations Timidity Excessive dependence on others Submissiveness toward others A desire to be taken care of Tolerance of poor or abusive treatment Urgent need to start a new relationship when one has ended Preoccupation with orderliness and rules Extreme perfectionism Desire to be in control of situations Inability to discard broken or worthless objects Inflexibility

Dependent personality disorder

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

Causes of personality disorder

In the past, some believed that people with personality disorders were just lazy or even evil. But new research has begun to explore such potential causes as genetics, parenting and peer influences:

Genetics. Researchers are beginning to identify some possible genetic factors behind personality disorders. One team, for instance, has identified a malfunctioning gene that may be a factor in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Other researchers are exploring genetic links to aggression, anxiety and feartraits that can play a role in personality disorders.

Childhood trauma. Findings from one of the largest studies of personality disorders, the Collaborative Longitudinal Personality Disorders Study, offer clues about the role of childhood experiences. One study found a link between the number and type of childhood traumas and the development of personality disorders. People with borderline personality disorder, for example, had especially high rates of childhood sexual trauma.

Verbal abuse. Even verbal abuse can have an impact. In a study of 793 mothers and children, researchers asked mothers if they had screamed at their children, told them they didnt love them or threatened to send them away. Children who had experienced such verbal abuse were three times as likely as other children to have borderline, narcissistic, obsessive-compulsive or paranoid personality disorders in adulthood. High reactivity. Sensitivity to light, noise, texture and other stimuli may also play a role. Overly sensitive children, who have what researchers call high reactivity, are more likely to develop shy, timid or anxious personalities. However, high reactivitys role is still far from clear-cut. Twenty percent of infants are highly reactive, but less than 10 percent go on to develop social phobias.

Peers. Certain factors can help prevent children from developing personality disorders. Even a single strong relationship with a relative, teacher or friend can offset negative influences, say psychologists.

Possible Treatment Several treatments are available for personality disorders. They include: Psychotherapy Medications Hospitalization

Successful treatment depends on your active participation in your care. Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is the main way to treat personality disorders. Psychotherapy is a general term for the process of treating personality disorders by talking about your condition and related issues with a mental health provider. During psychotherapy, you learn about your condition and your mood, feelings, thoughts and behavior. Using the insight and knowledge you gain in psychotherapy, you can learn healthy ways to manage your symptoms. Types of psychotherapy used to treat personality disorders may include: Cognitive behavioral therapy. This combines features of both cognitive and behavior therapies to help you identify unhealthy, negative beliefs and behaviors and replace them with healthy, positive ones. Dialectical behavior therapy. This is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy that teaches behavioral skills to help you tolerate stress, regulate your emotions and improve your relationships with others. Psychodynamic psychotherapy. This therapy focuses on increasing your awareness of unconscious thoughts and behaviors, developing new insights into your motivations, and resolving conflicts to live a happier life. Psychoeducation. This therapy teaches you and sometimes family and friends about your illness, including treatments, coping strategies and problem-solving skills.

Psychotherapy may be provided in individual sessions, in group therapy or in sessions that include family or even friends. The type of psychotherapy that's right for you depends on your individual situation. Medications There are no medications specifically approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat personality disorders. However, several types of psychiatric medications may help with various personality disorder symptoms. Antidepressant medications. Antidepressants may be useful if you have a depressed mood, anger, impulsivity, irritability or hopelessness, which may be associated with personality disorders. Mood-stabilizing medications. As their name suggests, mood stabilizers can help even out mood swings or reduce irritability, impulsivity and aggression. Anti-anxiety medications. These may help if you have anxiety, agitation or insomnia. But in some cases, they can increase impulsive behavior. Antipsychotic medications. Also called neuroleptics, these may be helpful if your symptoms include losing touch with reality (psychosis) or in some cases if you have anxiety or anger problems.

Hospitalization and residential treatment programs In some cases, a personality disorder may be so severe that you require psychiatric hospitalization. Psychiatric hospitalization is generally recommended only when you aren't able to care for yourself properly or when you're in immediate danger of harming yourself or someone else. Psychiatric hospitalization options include 24-hour inpatient

care, partial or day hospitalization, or residential treatment, which offers a supportive place to live. Participating in your own care Try to be an active participant in your treatment. Working together, you and your doctor or therapist can decide which treatment options may be best for your situation, depending on your type of personality disorder, your symptoms and their severity, your personal preferences, insurance coverage, affordability, treatment side effects, and other factors. In some cases, a personality disorder may be so severe that a doctor, loved one or guardian may need to guide your care until you're well enough to participate in decision making.

Cluster A (odd or eccentric disorders)[edit source/w/index.php? title=Personality_disorder&veaction=edit&section=4] Paranoid personality disorder: characterized by a pattern of irrational suspicion and mistrust of others, interpreting motivations as malevolent Schizoid personality disorder: lack of interest and detachment from social relationships, and restricted emotional expression Schizotypal personality disorder: a pattern extreme discomfort interacting socially, distorted cognitions and perceptions

Cluster B (dramatic, emotional or erratic disorders)[edit source/w/index.php? title=Personality_disorder&veaction=edit&section=5] Antisocial personality disorder: a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others, lack of empathy Borderline personality disorder: pervasive pattern of instability in relationships, self-image, identity, behavior and affects often leading to self-harm and impulsivity Histrionic personality disorder: pervasive pattern of attention-seeking behavior and excessive emotions Narcissistic personality disorder: a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and a lack of empathy

Cluster C (anxious or fearful disorders)[edit source/w/index.php? title=Personality_disorder&veaction=edit&section=6] Avoidant personality disorder: pervasive feelings of social inhibition and inadequacy, extreme sensitivity to negative evaluation Dependent personality disorder: pervasive psychological need to be cared for by other people. Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (not the same as obsessive-

compulsive disorder): characterized by rigid conformity to rules, perfectionism and control Other personality disorders[edit source/w/index.php? title=Personality_disorder&veaction=edit&section=7] Personality change due to another medical condition is a personality disturbance due to the direct effects of a medical condition Other specified personality disorder symptoms characteristic of a personality disorder but fails to meet the criteria for a specific disoder, with the reason given Unspecified personality disorder