Personality Disorders

Personality disorders are a group of mental illnesses. They involve long-term patterns of thoughts and behaviors that are unhealthy and inflexible. The behaviors cause serious problems with relationships and work. People with personality disorders have trouble dealing with everyday stresses and problems. They often have stormy relationships with other people.

The cause of personality disorders is unknown. However, genes and childhood experiences may play a role.

The symptoms of each personality disorder are different. They can mild or severe. People with personality disorders may have trouble realizing that they have a problem. To them, their thoughts are normal, and they often blame others for their problems. They may try to get help because of their problems with relationships and work. Treatment usually includes talk therapy and sometimes medicine.

Symptoms of Personality Disorders

The following features are indicative of Personality Disorders:

pervasive distrust
suspicion of others
unjustified belief
unjustified suspicion
hesitancy
unreasonable fear
perception of innocent remarks as personal insults
angry or hostile reaction
tendency to hold grudges
lack of interest in relationships
limited range of emotional expression
inability to take pleasure in activities
inability to pick up normal social cues
appearance of being cold
little or no interest in having sex
peculiar dress
peculiar thinking
peculiar beliefs
peculiar speech
peculiar behavior
odd perceptual experiences
inappropriate emotional responses
social anxiety
inappropriate or suspicious response
magical thinking
disregard for others
impulsive behavior
consistently irresponsible
up and down moods
intense displays of anger
stress-related paranoia
constantly seeking attention
excessive concern with physical appearance
fantasies about power
fantasies about success
fantasies about attractiveness
arrogance
inferior feeling
rigid and stubborn
fearing disapproval

It is possible that Personality Disorders shows no physical symptoms and still is present in a patient.

Get TabletWise Pro

Thousands of Classes to Help You Become a Better You.

Common Causes of Personality Disorders

The following are the most common causes of Personality Disorders:

genetic factors
environmental factors

Risk Factors for Personality Disorders

The following factors may increase the likelihood of Personality Disorders:

family history
abusive, unstable or chaotic family life during childhood
childhood conduct disorder
variations in brain chemistry and structure

Prevention of Personality Disorders

No, it is not possible to prevent Personality Disorders.

genetic factors

Occurrence of Personality Disorders

Number of Cases

The following are the number of Personality Disorders cases seen each year worldwide:

Very common > 10 Million cases

Common Age Group

Personality Disorders can occur at any age.

Common Gender

Personality Disorders can occur in any gender.

Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Personality Disorders

The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Personality Disorders:

Physical exam: To identify an underlying physical health problem
Psychiatric evaluation: Helps pinpointing a diagnosis
Diagnostic criteria in diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5): To compare symptoms to the criteria in DSM-5

Doctor for Diagnosis of Personality Disorders

Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Personality Disorders:

Psychiatrist

Complications of Personality Disorders if untreated

Yes, Personality Disorders causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Personality Disorders is left untreated:

problems in relationships
social isolation
alcohol or drug abuse

Procedures for Treatment of Personality Disorders

The following procedures are used to treat Personality Disorders:

Psychotherapy: To reduce behaviors that interfere with normal functioning and relationships
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): To treat borderline personality disorder
Schema-focused therapy: To promote positive life patterns
Mentalization-based therapy (MBT): To identify own thoughts and feelings at any given moment and create an alternate perspective on the situation
Transference-focused psychotherapy (TFP): To help understand emotions and interpersonal difficulties

Self-care for Personality Disorders

The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Personality Disorders:

Be an active participant: Help efforts to manage personality disorder
Learn about condition: Helps empowering and motivate to stick to treatment plan
Regular physical activity: Help managing symptoms
Avoid drugs and alcohol: Help managing symptoms
Get routine medical care: Helps to manage personality disorder

Patient Support for Treatment of Personality Disorders

The following actions may help Personality Disorders patients:

Family support: Work with patient's mental health professional to effectively offer support and encouragement to the patient

Time for Treatment of Personality Disorders

While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Personality Disorders to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision: