What is a personality disorder?
Personality is the way a person thinks, feels, and behaves that
distinguishes them from others. Experiences, environment, and genetic
qualities all have an impact on an individual s personality. Personality
disorders are defined as long-term patterns of strong and rigid thought,
behavior, and emotion.
Personality disorders
can result in erroneous perceptions of reality, deviant actions, and
distress in many areas of life, including employment, relationships, and
social functioning.
What are the types of personality disorders?
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
classifies the 10 different forms of personality disorders into three major
groups (categories). Each cluster shares a unique set of symptoms.
Cluster A
These personality disorders are characterised by odd or eccentric behavior.
People with cluster A personality disorders may have substantial
relationship problems because their behavior is perceived as unusual,
suspicious, or distant. Cluster A personality disorders include:
Paranoid Personality Disorder- It is characterized by a
pervasive distrust and suspicion of others, such that their goals are
regarded as malevolent, beginning by early adulthood and present in a
variety of contexts.
Schizoid Personality Disorder- It is distinguished by a
persistent separation from social interactions and restricted emotional
expressiveness in social contexts. People with this disorder are rather
passive and have difficulty responding appropriately to major life
events.
Schizotypal Personality Disorder- It is defined primarily
by an individual s persistent social impairments, which include severe
discomfort with close relations and cognitive distortions of conduct.
Individuals with schizotypal personality disorder may pretend to be
dissatisfied with their lack of connections, yet their behavior demonstrates
a lack of desire for closeness.
Cluster B
Dramatic or chaotic behavior characterizes cluster B personality disorders.
People with this cluster of personality disorders tend to have excessively
powerful emotions or engage in extremely impulsive, dramatic, promiscuous,
or illegal conduct. Cluster B personality disorders include:
Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD)- People with ASPD
lack respect for others and do not adhere to socially acceptable standards
or rules. People with ASPD may breach the law or injure others physically or
emotionally. They may refuse to show contempt for the negative
consequences.
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)- This disorder is
distinguished by issues with emotional regulation, which results in low
self-esteem, mood swings, impulsive behaviors, and subsequent relationship
difficulties.
Histrionic Personality Disorder- This disorder is
distinguished by powerful, unstable emotions and a skewed self-image.
Self-esteem in people with a histrionic personality disorder is based on the
approval of others rather than a genuine sense of self-worth.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder- A constant pattern of
imagined superiority and grandiosity, an overwhelming demand for praise and
adoration, and a lack of empathy for others characterize this
disorder.
Cluster C
Anxiety is a hallmark of Cluster C personality disorders. This cluster of
personality disorders is characterized by pervasive
anxiety
and/or fearfulness. Cluster C personality disorders include:
Avoidant Personality Disorder- People with this illness
experience chronic feelings of inadequacy and are extremely sensitive to
negative judgment from others. Though they would like to communicate with
people, they avoid social interaction owing to a strong fear of
rejection.
Dependent Personality Disorder- This condition is
characterized by a persistent and excessive need to be cared for by someone
else. It also includes submissiveness, a persistent need for reinforcement,
and an incapacity to make decisions. People with dependent personality
disorder have a fear of separation and exhibit submissive and clinging
behavior.
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder- This condition
is characterized by a continuous and severe need for orderliness,
perfectionism, and control (with no opportunity for flexibility), which
eventually hinders or interferes with work completion.
Who do personality disorders affect?
A personality disorder can affect anyone. However, different forms of
personality disorders have a distinct impact on individuals.
Most personality disorders emerge throughout the adolescent years when your
personality is further developing and maturing. As a result, nearly all
people with personality disorders are beyond the age of 18. An antisocial
personality disorder is an exception; around 80% of people with this disease
will have begun to exhibit symptoms by the age of 11.
People who are assigned male at birth are more prone to antisocial
personality disorders. Borderline, histrionic, and dependent personality
disorders are more likely to affect women than men.
What are the symptoms of personality disorders?
Each of the 10 types of personality disorders has its own specific signs
and symptoms. But, in general, personality disorders involve problems
with:
Identity and a sense of self: People with personality disorders typically
lack a clear or stable image of themselves, and how they see themselves
changes depending on the situation or the people around them. Their
self-esteem may be exaggeratedly high or exaggeratedly low.
Relationships: Because of their problematic beliefs and behaviors, people
with personality disorders find it difficult to build close, stable
relationships with others. They may be emotionally disconnected, lack
empathy or regard for others, or be extremely needy of attention and
care.
Another defining feature of personality disorders is that most people with
them have little to no understanding or self-awareness of how their beliefs
and behaviors are problematic.
Treatments for personality disorders
Personality disorders are difficult to treat since they are, by definition,
long-term personality patterns. However, an increasing number of
evidence-based treatments for personality disorders are being proven to be
effective.
The goal of personality disorder treatment includes the following:
1. Reducing subjective distress as well as symptoms like anxiety and
depression
2. Assisting people in understanding the internal aspects of their
problems
3. Changing maladaptive and socially unacceptable habits such as
irresponsibility, social isolation, a lack of assertiveness, and temper
outbursts
4. Changing negative personality qualities such as reliance, distrust,
arrogance, and manipulation.
5. Medication can be useful to treat associated or co-morbid depression or
anxiety. Depending on the symptoms, the healthcare provider may prescribe the
medications.
Can therapy treat personality disorders?
Several types of psychotherapy may be useful in the treatment of
personality disorders:
1.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
provides coping skills and strategies for dealing with suicidal and
self-harming urges, as well as controlling emotions and enhancing
relationships.
2. The purpose of
Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT)
is to "recognize negative beliefs and adopt appropriate coping
skills."
3. Mentalization-based therapy (MBT) educates people to
recognize and reflect on their own and other s internal states of
mind.
4. Psycho-dynamic treatment focuses on the unconscious
mind, which houses upsetting feelings, urges, and beliefs that are too
painful to confront directly.
5.
Family Therapy
, in which family members learn to change their negative reactions to one
another and develop good communication skills.
Situations may get difficult at times but a professional can help you
manage the situation. We at HopeQure, have a specialized team of experts
that can provide the required clarity through
online counselling.
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