Personality Disorders: Types, Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment
Known as one of the most difficult disorders to treat in the psychiatry field, personality disorders involve unusual and disruptive patterns that can wreak havoc on an individual’s life if left untreated. Knowing the signs, symptoms, and causes of a personality disorder can help you or a loved one receive the proper care to help manage the consequences of erratic and problematic behaviors from personality disorders. Â
Understanding underlying personality traits—such as impulsivity, emotional instability, or perfectionism—may also help explain why some individuals are more vulnerable to developing a personality disorder than others.
A personality disorder is a mental health condition that causes long-lasting, all-encompassing disruptive patterns of thinking, behaviors, moods, and relations to others [1]. Often, those who have a personality disorder do not realize their behaviors and thinking patterns are problematic.Â
Individuals with personality disorders often have altered perceptions of reality and exhibit abnormal behaviors surrounding various aspects of life, including work, relationships, and social functioning. There are 10 types of personality disorders, each organized into three clusters, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
The 10 personality disorders [2] are:Â
The 10 personality disorders are categorized into the following clusters: Cluster A, Cluster B, and Cluster C [3].Â
Cluster A personality disorders are characterized by unusual, eccentric ways of thinking and behaving.Â
Cluster B personality disorders are characterized by dramatic, intense displays of emotions and impulsive behaviors.Â
Lastly, Cluster C personality disorders involve severe feelings of fear and anxiety. These include:
US studies show [4] that obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is the most common, affecting about 7.9% of the population, followed by narcissistic personality disorder at 6.2%, and borderline personality disorder at 5.9%. It is estimated that about 9% of adults in the US have some kind of personality disorder.Â
Personality disorders are still widely misunderstood. Currently, scientists are still determining why they occur. Although there is no confirmed cause of personality disorders, scientists believe the following factors may contribute to the development of them:Â
Personality disorders have expansive symptoms [5], and many symptoms may overlap with other disorders. Additionally, each personality disorder has its unique combination of symptoms.Â
Some of the most common signs of personality disorders include:Â
In general, symptoms of a personality disorder involve issues with identity and relationships. A main characteristic of personality disorders is that individuals who have them often have no insight or self-awareness of how their behaviors and thoughts may be problematic and how they cause issues.Â
Receiving a personality disorder diagnosis can prove challenging because many people with personality disorders don’t think there is a problem with the way they think and act. Because of this, those with a personality disorder may not be aware that something is wrong in their behavior and may not seek help or a diagnosis. Typically, those with a personality disorder get diagnosed when they seek help for co-occurring conditions, like depression, anxiety, or substance abuse.Â
Healthcare providers diagnose people using the specific criteria from the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. To assess the totality and existence of the condition, they ask broad, general questions about past history, interpersonal relationships, work history, and impulse control. Some questions may be geared towards reality testing. In general, personality disorders are underdiagnosed [1] because of the other symptoms exhibited, like depression or anxiety. Healthcare providers tend to focus on those symptoms as opposed to diving deeper into the potential issue of an underlying personality disorder.
Personality disorders are some of the most difficult disorders to treat because individuals with these disorders do not seek or want help since they believe their behavior is normal and not problematic.Â
Currently, there are no medications that actually treat personality disorders. However, medications like SSRIs and SNRIs may be used to treat the co-occurring symptoms of depression and anxiety that come along with a personality disorder.Â
Although there is no medication for any personality disorder, psychotherapy and talk therapy can help manage it. Talk therapy can help an individual identify and change any problematic emotions, thoughts, or behaviors. Psychologists and psychiatrists often work together for those with a personality disorder. Common kinds of psychotherapy for personality disorders include dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.Â
As stated, those who have a personality disorder often do not seek treatment. Because of this, they usually live their life with the consequences of their behavior, and the overall prognosis for personality disorders tends to be poor.Â
Untreated personality disorders often cause:
Studies show that this leads to higher levels of unemployment, divorce, abuse, substance addiction, homelessness, and even crime. Individuals afflicted with personality disorder are also more likely to experience traumatic accidents and have early deaths by suicide.Â
If you are experiencing chronic and extreme mood swings, emotional outbursts, problems at work, or difficulty with relationships, those could be signs that you have a personality disorder. If you constantly exhibit strange or unpredictable behavior, you may have a personality disorder. If you suspect you or a loved one has a personality disorder, getting a proper diagnosis is paramount to your quality of life. A qualified mental health professional can help determine the presence of a personality disorder and provide guidance on next steps for treatment.
Tell your primary care physician or your healthcare provider if you believe you have a personality disorder. They can help diagnose you and refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist for extra support with a diagnosis.Â
All personality disorder types may be difficult to manage and treat, with no one disorder being worse or better than the other.Â
Living with an undiagnosed personality disorder makes life extremely difficult. If you or a loved one has a personality disorder, get help at Connections.Â
Our staff is dedicated to providing compassionate treatment that addresses the entirety of an individual, not just their symptoms. We offer the following services as part of our dedication to your well-being and recovery:
Our evidence-based approaches are designed to help those with personality disorders and address any co-occurring symptoms, like:Â
At Connections, compassion is at the heart of our care. Experience the difference that a premier mental health facility can make on your path to recovery.
Contact us at 844-759-0999 to learn more about the resources and support available for those who have personality disorders.Â
Sources
[1] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9636-personality-disorders-overview
[2] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/personality-disorders/symptoms-causes/syc-20354463
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3105841/
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3105841/
[5] https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/borderline-personality-disorder/symptoms/#:~:text=brief%20episodes%20of%20strange%20experiences,certain%20whether%20these%20are%20real
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